Lee Carsley is looking to experiment (Picture: Getty)
Lee Carsley has hinted he may be willing to play Cole Palmer and Phil Foden in deeper roles for England as he searches for greater control in matches.
Carsley got his interim stint off and running with a comfortable 2-0 win against Ireland on Saturday courtesy of goals from former Ireland players Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
Having replaced Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024, the former U-21 boss is now the heavy favourite to get the England job on a full-time basis but appears unwilling to rest on his laurels and is keen to put his own spin on this England side.
Part of that process is addressing England’s lack of a controlling central midfielder, an issue that led Carsley to hand Angel Gomes his first senior call-up.
But England’s interim boss is willing to go further, suggesting that Palmer and Foden both have the abilities to control games from a deeper, central position.
‘I think we have produced them,’ Carsley said ahead of England’s clash with Finland when asked about his side’s lack of controlling midfielder.
‘It’s us just getting our mindset as coaches to understand that, to play a player like that you are going to forsake some of the physicality but you are going to have the ball. A lot of it is just the belief bit.
Carsley worked alongside Cole Palmer at U-21 level (Picture: Getty)
‘I am not saying we didn’t in the past but I definitely went a different way with our team selection. Players like Angel, like Phil, like Cole, they are more than capable of playing in central positions and controlling games.’
Due to injury and illness, neither the Chelsea or Manchester City star are available to Carsley who is instead poised to hand a first start to former Manchester United youngster Gomes.
‘I spoke about it when we did the squad selection that I think that we have to get our eyes used to having this sort of player,’ he said of the Lille midfielder.
‘He’s not box-to-box, he’s not massively physical but technically he can control a game from the middle of the pitch with his positioning and his technique.
‘If we’re going to win a major tournament, we need variety. We need players who are multifunctional and I think he’s in that bracket.
‘He gets the ball, he slows things down and he gets you playing again. Even in a physical game like that. He’s more than capable of doing that. To get into the squad and already make his debut, as did Morgan [Gibbs-White], is a good achievement.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.