Football
PA Sport 9y

Gareth Southgate pleased with new recruits after friendly win vs. U.S.

England under-21 manager Gareth Southgate declared himself satisfied with his new recruits after their 1-0 win over a United States under-23 side at Preston.

Substitute James Wilson proved to be the difference with a 71st-minute close-range effort as the team warmed up for the start of their European Championship qualifying campaign in Norway on Monday.

"Given the short period of time the players have had with us they really took ideas on quickly,'' Southgate said after giving 11 players their debuts from a rebuilt squad after last summer's disappointment at the Euro U21 tournament in the Czech Republic.

"We've had three-and-a-half days as a group before today. Players have taken on a lot of info. We will develop that and improve that. We would have liked to have won, we have, we would have liked to have kept a clean sheet, we have.

"I liked a lot of our work with the ball. We caused our own problems really, conceding possession in bad areas and that can improve. Most pleasing of all was that the mentality of the players who came on was really outstanding and that serves us well for the future.''

Wilson's immediate future at Manchester United may be under some threat following the record-breaking signing £36 million French teenager Anthony Martial.

However, he had a poacher's instinct for his goal and hit the post with an exquisite chip minutes later.

"I think he is a work in progress. There is some filling out to do physically and he has not had a tremendous amount of football, but he scores goals,'' Southgate said. "It was a good time for him to come into the game.''

Norwich's Nathan Redmond was named man of the match after a lively performance out on the wing.

"I think the challenge for us with Nathan is we want to give him more responsibility within the group,'' said Southgate. "He has been with us at two Euros now. He is starting to score goals in the Premier League.

"If he can keep that quality of end product with his work rate and character then that is a real possibility for him.''

^ Back to Top ^