Lee Carsley has been in interim charge of England throughout the six-game Nations League campaign following the summer departure of Gareth Southgate
Lee Carsley will go back to managing England’s under-21s when his brief stint with the senior team is over after the forthcoming international break.
Interim boss Carsley has named his squad for the Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland, calling up Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall for the first time, as well as uncapped Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.
Carsley has been in interim charge of England throughout the six-game Nations League campaign following the summer departure of Gareth Southgate, but he will hand the reins over to incoming boss Thomas Tuchel from January 1.
He was linked with his former club Coventry City on Thursday following the sacking of Mark Robins, but the former Republic of Ireland midfielder says he is looking forward to returning to his old job.
“My role will be back with the under-21s,” he said at his press conference following the announcement of the squad. “A role I’m really privileged to do. With that there is total support from the senior team. I’m in a better position now to do that.
“I tried to make it quite clear from the offset I would do the three camps and win promotion in the Nations League. I’ll take that confidence into the future.”
England beat Ireland and Finland in Carsley’s first two matches in charge in the second tier of the Nations League, both 2-0 wins, before a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Greece and then a 3-1 win in Finland. They face Greece in Athens next Thursday before Ireland come to Wembley a week on Sunday.
When asked what he’s learned from his spell in charge, Carsley said: “I think it’s made me and the staff a lot better. The experience we’ve had can only help. We speak about comfort zones and this has been right out of it.
“It’s something we’re stronger for. It wasn’t a great experience losing against Greece. You doubt yourself after making a lot of changes, trying something different. We’re moving in the right direction and we’ll be judged on results – hopefully we can finish on a high.
“I don’t see this as a legacy. I’m just trying to do the best job I can. You always have to put the players forward. The bigger picture is it helps World Cup qualification if we get promoted.”
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