Adam Lallana has joined the England Under-21 coaching set-up in a role that will also allow the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder to act as a mentor to the youngsters.
Lallana was at St George’s Park on Tuesday and will remain with the European champions for the next three camps after being approached by head coach Lee Carsley.
His appointment was confirmed as Levi Colwill, the senior England defender, praised Lallana for his role in the 20-year-old’s development during a loan spell at Brighton last season, describing him as a huge influence on his career.
Brighton manager De Zerbi, right, gave Lallana his blessing for the role
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Carsley led the under-21s to European success in Georgia in the summer but Joleon Lescott left his coaching staff after the tournament, so he moved quickly to ask Lallana to come on board.
Roberto de Zerbi, the Brighton manager, gave Lallana, 35, his blessing and the move is expected to have dual benefits, with the player passing on his knowledge to what is a much-changed under-21 squad, while also seeing whether coaching is an area he wants to move into permanently in the future.
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Colwill has made strides at Chelsea this season, having impressed last term as Brighton qualified for Europe. He credited Lallana’s guidance in his burgeoning career and said: “I am someone who is a chilled person and sometimes I need someone to give me a bit of a push.
“At first I did not really understand why he was always on me. But then once it clicked in my head, I realised that he was only trying to help me. I was happy and lucky to play alongside him and he definitely helped me.
Left to right: Cole, Carsley and Lallana at England Under-21 training
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“Every day in training [he was pushing me], giving my compliments, if I needed them. If I was struggling a bit, he asked me if I was alright.
“If I am doing well, he would push me to make sure I was still doing well. There were times when I was having an off day or not really feeling like myself and he was there, no matter what, pushing me. It was about communication. He was always putting his arm around me, the same as Lewis Dunk.
“At Chelsea, I have Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva. They are leaders in the team for a reason. That is their job, to help the young ones, and I have had that. I have had the best.
“It has definitely made me wake up a bit and realise the opportunity I have got and that I cannot waste it.”
Colwill credits Lallana with helping his development during a loan spell at Brighton last season
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Lallana, who won 34 England caps while with Southampton and Liverpool, and played at the World Cup in 2014 and Euro 2016, joined Carsley and Ashley Cole at training on Tuesday.
The under-21s have retained the likes of captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis, James Trafford, Jarrad Branthwaite, Charlie Cresswell, Harvey Elliott, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke, but there is an influx of new faces.
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They face Luxembourg next Monday and host Serbia on October 12 at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.
