Boss Gareth Southgate has insisted senior players should not see their England Under-21 call-ups as punishment.
Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers have been included in Southgate's squad for their Euro 2015 play-offs with Croatia.
West Brom's uncapped striker Saido Berahino, the top scoring Englishman in the Barclays Premier League with four goals, is also in.
But Southgate said they should not be downhearted at missing out on the senior squad.
He said: "It shouldn't be seen as players coming back down being some sort of punishment. We have got to make that movement between the squads more fluid.
"It's a positive message, to show they are prepared to come and join in with the rest of the group is important.
"Roy (Hodgson) and myself work very closely every time there's a squad announced and clearly Luke and Calum have been around the senior squad already.
"The fact it's a play-off game Roy was keen that those who he didn't think would start for him were with us. That's the joined-up thinking we're trying to put in place.
"The boys have to come and have the desire to come and do that. They understand the situation because getting to the finals is important."
England host Croatia at Molineux on October 10 before going to Vinkovci on October 14.
Source: PA
