Lee Carsley is set to hand England’s axed Euro 2024 stars Harry Maguire and Jack Grealish starting XI recalls in his first game in charge.
The interim head coach is also considering handing Anthony Gordon a start in Saturday’s Nations League game versus Republic of Ireland, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is finally set to play in his preferred right-back position.
Grealish and Maguire were two of the most high-profile omissions of the squad Gareth Southgate selected for Germany 2024.
Elsewhere, Newcastle attacker Gordon, who played just five minutes during the European Championships, is also in line to play.
‘I was disappointed,’ said Gordon told ITV when asked about his game time during the Euros.
Jack Grealish and Harry Maguire are set to start for England against the Republic of Ireland
Lee Carsley has vowed to play football on the front foot for his first senior Three Lions game
‘Just because I believe in myself so much. I felt unstoppable especially at that point in the season I had just had.
‘I felt like no one could defend me, no one could deal with me over 90 minutes.
‘I felt like I was ready to go and impress people and help the country win the trophy. So to envision what I envisioned to what it was, was disappointing.’
Grealish is set to play in an advanced central attacking role behind captain Harry Kane while Carsley himself has already vowed to play football on the front foot.
However with a nod to the pragmatism that some used as a stick to beat Southgate, the 50-year-old said it’s not only his players’ work with the ball that has impressed him during his three sessions so far.
‘We have spoken a lot about being excited, playing with energy, playing with control,’ said Carsley.
‘But I have seen a lot of really good defending this week in terms of shots that have been blocked in games at the end of sessions.
Both Grealish and Maguire were dropped ahead of England’s Euro 2024 campaign
‘As exciting as you want to be at one end, ultimately, to win the game, you have got to keep it out of your goal. But this week has really hit home to me the level of players that we’ve got. If we can perform at the right time as a whole group, there is no reason why they can’t create a legacy for themselves.’
Southgate’s reign ended with a second final appearance in the 2024 Euros but with his team seemingly in a state of regression in terms of their football.
Southgate admitted that his players had looked frightened at times and Carsley must now ensure that playing for the national team once again feels like a pleasurable experience.
‘I think it’s not something you can put your finger on because it’s a feeling,’ said Carsley.
‘If you are worried about something and I said to you: “Well don’t worry”, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are okay. It’s mirroring the behaviours of the coach. They get a lot of points and keys from not only myself but also my coaches.
Carsley is also considering handing Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon a start in Dublin
Interim head coach Carsley is aware the coming weeks represent an audition for the post
‘I think the players can see that we’re for them, that we believe in the way we want to play and ultimately it’s down to the players. But it [fear] is not something that I’ve come into the camp and felt. I don’t feel that at all. I feel a bit of excitement if anything.
‘We’ve done three sessions. We’re looking at different ways of getting through, getting beyond, and playing through. I expect it to be a little bit scrappy and scruffy at times. But I’ve got total belief in the way that I think we can play. We spoke a lot about control, which is going to be a big thing for this group.
‘I’m aware that I’m going to be here for the three camps, potentially six games, and we’ve got to keep building in every camp. But I expect them to perform well.’
Carsley is aware that the coming weeks represent an audition for the post but stressed he will not to allow this to influence his judgement.
‘I don’t think it would benefit anyone if I’m making a statement for me,’ he said.
Former boss Gareth Southgate admitted that his players had looked frightened at times
‘If I think it’s best for the squad then, yes, 100 per cent. I tried to reflect that in the squad selection which was very difficult. The safer option would have been to go with the tried and tested.
‘But I felt it was important to put a different stamp on the squad.’
England face an Ireland team at the Aviva Stadium managed by Heimir Hallgrimsson, coach of Iceland when they humiliated England at the 2016 Euros.
