He is one of six players making their U-21 squad debut, along with Aston Villa duo Peter Whittingham and Liam Ridgewell, Wimbledon's Nigel Reo-Coker, Coventry's Calum Davenport and Spurs' Rohan Ricketts.
Carson was recommended to Platt by the Leeds coaching staff and he has been watched by England scouts at reserve games. England cannot qualify for the 2004 finals, prompting Platt to discard several players at this level, with 13 of the 21 squad eligible for the next tournament.
Squad in full: Ambrose, Ameobi (both Newcastle), Ashton (Crewe), Bent (Ipswich), Burch (Tottenham), Carson (Leeds), Davenport (Coventry), Davies (Middlesbrough), Defoe (West Ham), Grant (Derby), Jagielka (Sheffield United), Jenas (Newcastle), Johnson (Chelsea), Ricketts (Tottenham), Ridgewell (Aston Villa), Reo-Coker (Wimbledon), Prutton (Southampton) Sidwell (Reading), Taylor (Portsmouth), Whittingham (Aston Villa), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).