Southgate talks of great expectations amid the gloom

Mild-mannered and unfailingly polite, Gareth Southgate was not an obvious candidate to courageous the slings and arrows of the England manager’s job, but his good-natured geniality disguises a steely determination.

England boss Gareth Southgate insists he is determined to build a team that will make the country proud.

Southgate was keen to stress that despite Rooney’s continued captaincy, it was important to develop new leaders within the England camp.

“I had a really good experience with him, I really enjoyed it, and I think he fully deserves the job”.

The 46-year-old was confirmed as the latest man to lead the Three Lions having come through a four-game spell as interim boss with the team unbeaten.

“There has to be trust and clear guidelines, but players have to take leadership in that”. It’s important in this role to show leadership. It’s important to look at what we are trying to do over the longer term. What’s also clear is that I’ve only selected him to start in two of the four matches we’ve had.

Wayne Rooney’s future as captain will surely be on the agenda given the unwanted headlines created during the last worldwide break, when he was pictured merrily socialising with fellow guests at England’s team hotel in the early hours following a day off.

Southgate’s first competitive match as manager will be the worldwide fixture against Germany in Dortmund on 22 March 2017, followed by the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley Stadium on 26 March 2017.

Reports suggested Southgate’s contract contained a break clause after the 2018 World Cup, but he said that was not the case.

“[But] laying down the law is not necessary with this group, I like to treat them with respect as adults”. The governing body is reviewing players’ free time and Southgate needs to bring the matter to a close. “If we’re going to be a top team, I want them involved in that”.

“When I played for England, particularly in 1996 when we had such a successful team, there were captains of their clubs throughout the team”.

He repaired some of the damage done to his coaching reputation from his time at Middlesbrough when he was with the under-21 team, leading it to a first title in 22 years at this year’s Toulon tournament.

Southgate, who is a father-of-two, also said:”If I’m a parent sending a child to a game over the weekend, I feel they’re in a much better place than we were 15-20 years ago”.

The main challenges facing Southgate include restoring public confidence in an England team which has flattered to decisive at major tournaments for half a century, while also implementing the England DNA that is regarded as a key component of the FAs vision of the game.

And Glenn went on to say he hopes Southgate can take even more money out of the coffers by proving to be a hit in the job.