Southgate tells team: Be brave and show what you can do

Gareth Southgate says he's told his players to express themselves fully under his management – starting against Malta this weekend.

England play their first home qualifier for the 2018 World Cup on Saturday as Southgate begins a four-game stint as the Three Lions' interim boss.

Speaking alongside Theo Walcott in the final press conference ahead of the game, Southgate told the media that his team would have his backing to play in a certain style.

"This is a game where we know we're going to have a lot of the ball," he explained. "In the last few matches, Malta have had probably 35, 40 per cent of the ball so I expect us to be controlling the game.

"We're going to need to show patience and stick to our principles of playing. Maybe we can get an early goal, but maybe we don't – and then it's even more important that we're sticking to the style.

"I want us to be brave with the ball. One of the thing I've wanted to get across to the players this week is that I want to see an England team that is brave in possession of the ball and prepared to take chances, prepared to take risks in one-v-one situations even though I know they won't always succeed in those moments."

Southgate continued: "Above all, I want the players to be brave and to bring the exciting things they have and their capabilities to the table. They can do that, and they've got the freedom to do that while I'm in charge.

"I've been very clear on that with all of the young players in the system, and I think this is now a great opportunity to show what English players can do.

"I keep hearing what English players can't do, but I've seen so much of what English players can do. I want these guys to go and show it."