England’s caretaker manager Gareth Southgate expressed a desire to move on from a ‘very difficult’ week in his introductory press conference yesterday.
Southgate, formerly England Under-21s coach, has been placed in charge on a temporary basis after Sam Allardyce left his post as manager last week following just 67 days at the helm. Allardyce left “by mutual consent” after being caught giving advice about how to circumvent transfer rules and mocking his predecessor, Roy Hodgson, in a newspaper sting.
“I realise the last week has been a very difficult one for our organisation,” Southgate told a press conference at the St George’s Park national football centre in Burton, central England. “I felt it was important to step forward in the leadership position. I’m very much looking forward to working with the players over the next 10 days to get the results the country wants.”
Southgate has recalled Manchester United forwards Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard for England’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers at home to Malta on Saturday and away to Slovenia next week. He also awarded Stoke City full-back Glen Johnson a first international call-up in over two years and Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after one year.
Southgate has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will continue as captain. “The decision to make him captain is quite simple,” Southgate said. “What I felt from what I have seen around St George’s, what I gleaned from talking to staff over the two years, is that he is the outstanding leader in the group.”
England won 1-0 away to Slovakia in Allardyce’s one game in charge. Southgate, a former England centre-back, said he had thanked Allardyce since his predecessor’s departure.
“We exchanged messages. From my point of view, that was important,” said the 46-year-old. “I didn’t want to be seen as someone who was waiting in the wings for an opportunity. I think Sam knew that. I felt it was important to thank him. The working relationship from my point of view was very positive. He’s got his own situation to deal with and I’ve got to get on with leading the country forward.”
Allardyce’s downfall came amid a spate of revelations about corruption in English football by the Daily Telegraph. Reflecting on the stories, Southgate said: “I’m involved in a sport that I love and an industry that at times I don’t like. The detail about what happened last week, I’m not au fait with. I’ve heard names mentioned and bits of information, but I don’t have the detail, so I don’t think I can speculate.”
Southgate will also take charge of England’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland and friendly against Spain in November. He said he had not had time to think about whether he wants the role full-time.
“I’ve not had a chance to think about anything other than preparing for this week and getting the best results,” he said. “Everything beyond that can wait until we have time to breathe.”
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend has replaced Raheem Sterling in the squad after the in-form Manchester City forward withdrew due to injury. Townsend, 25, was last called up for England’s pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Turkey and Australia. He has won 11 caps and scored three goals.
Sterling is believed to have a minor calf injury. He has been in impressive form for City under new manager Pep Guardiola, although he produced a subdued display in their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino/ITA, on loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Stoke City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, capt), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)