Gareth Southgate keen to keep building U21s' squad spirit

The Three Lions got their new Euro Qualifying campaign off to a winning start against Norway in September and will play their first home game at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Tuesday 13 October.

Southgate’s new-look squad only came together as a group for the first time last month, so to pick up the victory against group rivals Norway and in their first match against USA was encouraging.

But the head coach knows the group needs more time together on and off the pitch to fully gel, and with only one game to prepare for this week he’s looking forward to the next few days.

"We have no shortage of good players so the key for us is helping them to enjoy their time with England and make sure the experience is beneficial for them," he explained.

"We enjoyed working with the group for the first time last month and they were very receptive to our ideas and it's important that they have some ownership of what goes on, because we want to develop them as people as well as players.

"And we also have to try and win some matches as well, so it's an interesting role in trying to balance those objectives off."

Southgate and his squad came together for the first time in September, when they faced USA and Norway

With Kazakhstan providing the opposition next week, Southgate knows it will prove to be a real test for his team.

They will make the long trip west having picked up one point from their first two games in the group.

And after seeing both of their previous games with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Switzerland, Southgate believes they will be tough to break down on home turf.

"Kazakhstan isn't going to be an easy game, whatever perceptions may be," he said.

"They won away in Bosnia in their first qualifier and they only lost in the last minute against the Swiss, through a penalty.

"They're very well organised defensively and are a real threat on counter attacks, so it's a game that we have to be ready for. 

"It's an old-style European game where you may well have a lot of the ball so we're going to have to show a lot of patience in breaking them down.

"But it will be an interesting game and an exciting game for people to come and see.

"I know there's going to be a lot of schools coming which adds to the atmosphere and the U21s are a group where there are quite a few familiar names for people to come and see, just before they've maybe established themselves into the first team.

"And there are exciting players to come and watch, so it's an opportunity for us to take England on the road. 

"That's why the U21s is very important and we've had some fantastic crowds before. People have come and enjoyed the matches and the way in which we've tried to play."

Tickets for the game at the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday 13 October are on sale now, priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. Click here or call 024 7678 6411 to get yours.