'We all need to prove ourselves again,' says Eric Dier

Eric Dier says he’s looking forward to a ‘fresh start’ for England under new manager Sam Allardyce.

The Tottenham midfielder was part of the squad that travelled to Euro 2016 and has retained his place in the group for this weekend’s opening 2018 World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.

And, despite the disappointment of an early exit from this summer’s tournament, the 22-year-old is keen that the camaraderie among the squad is maintained under Allardyce.

“You don't wipe away history, but I think it's a fresh start for everyone and for me as well, I guess,” said Dier.

“There's a new manager so he's going to have different opinions and different views, so it's a new start for everyone. Everyone's going to have to prove themselves again, and I'm no exception.

“I was very disappointed with how it (Euro 2016) went because I think that, as a group, behind the scenes at the Euros, there was a fantastic atmosphere within the players.

“You might not have seen that, but everyone was feeling very positive. That's what made it even more disappointing for me – that there was such a good atmosphere around the camp and that we couldn't transform that into wins on the pitch.

“In the main the group is the same and the atmosphere has carried on through to this, so if we can keep that going and just change the results then we'll be doing very well.”

Sunday’s game in Trnava comes barely three months on from the previous meeting between the two sides, in the final group-stage game at Euro 2016.

That match ended goalless, with a point enough to take both countries into the last 16 – but Dier does not expect a similar story this weekend.

“I think it'll be a completely different game to the one you saw at the Euros,” he affirmed.

“I remember talking to one of their players when we were on the side getting a water, and he was saying 'all we need is a draw'. I think it'll be a bit different, this game.

“We'll be a different side with a new manager in completely different circumstances, so I don't think you can compare the two games at all, really.”