by Lee Carsley wants to continue to “bring a breath of fresh air”, as England’s interim coach wants to build on the promising first training camp and “take the team further forward” over the next month.
The head coach of the England Under-21 national team was promoted to temporary head coach of the team in August after Gareth Southgate ended his eight-year tenure following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Carsley will be in charge of England throughout the autumn and began his tenure with a 2-0 away Nations League win over the Republic of Ireland on Saturday before beating Finland by the same scoreline three days later.
Harry Kane celebrated his 100th international cap by scoring both goals in a game at Wembley that had barely finished when the caretaker manager was already turning his attention to October’s international matches.
“Competition is always necessary,” Carsley said. “We need it all over the field.”
“I’m thinking about tonight’s game, but soon after I left the field I thought, ‘Okay, I have to start thinking about the next game now.’
“And what that might look like and which players will come into form and how that will develop. So, yes, the competition for places in this squad is very big.
“I think you’ll see some movement and I think it’s important that we continue to bring fresh air and move the team forward.
“We still have two training camps ahead of us before the start of World Cup qualifying, so it is important that we are in a strong position.”
The next transfer window begins with a home game against Greece, who top Group B2 on goal difference and have scored one more goal than England in their victories over Finland and Ireland.
Carsley’s team now travel to Helsinki, where they will look to build on the encouraging performances of a group where the interim coach has placed his emphasis on form and freshness.
Angel Gomes, Noni Madueke, Tino Livramento and Morgan Gibbs-White were all called up for the first time for the training camp in September, breathing new life into a group still reeling from the disappointment of the European Championships.
“When we made the squad selections, it was always a help for the team to have the new players and the younger players with their enthusiasm and energy,” Carsley said.
“I was really worried given the team/squad had a huge disappointment in the summer.
“It wouldn’t have shocked me too much if we had had a slight hangover before the two games.
“Of course it was important that we achieved results, but what was even more important for me was that we performed well.
“You want to stand on the sidelines and watch the team play, attack and cheer. I think we managed to do that in both games.”
“Scoring four goals in two games is good – but I still think we could have done better.
“I think we’ve faced two really strong teams and two outstanding goalkeepers, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
Carsley’s first squad selection certainly caused a stir; the most notable omission was probably the vice-captain of the England team for Euro 2024, Kyle Walker.
This decision was based on his limited playing time at Manchester City and allowed Trent Alexander-Arnold to impress at right-back after Southgate had preferred him in midfield.
“I think he definitely has what it takes to be a really important player for the team,” Carsley said. “I want to try to create some real competition for spots if possible.”
“I don’t think a player should ever come to training camp thinking that the starting eleven is simply copied and pasted.
“I think we need to be aware of what they do at their clubs, how many games they play, what level they play at and what form they are in and then hopefully select a team accordingly.
“But I think Trent had a really strong training camp. That doesn’t surprise me.
“He has had an excellent start to the season at Liverpool and has carried that into the last few games.”
While Walker was the most surprising omission, Gomes was undoubtedly the most unexpected inclusion.
The Manchester United academy graduate now plays for French club Lille and was part of England’s U21 European Championship triumph under Carsley last summer.
The 24-year-old midfielder made his debut as a substitute in Dublin and impressed both in and out of possession in his first game for England against Finland.
“He totally deserves it,” Carsley said. “I think it’s good that the performance you saw today is something we’ve seen over the last three or four years.”
“It’s important that he continues to work hard and he will. But he also needs to continue to play in France because it’s going to be really hard and difficult to get into the team and keep it.”
