Southgate roars in a blazer glory

HE has been portrayed as the ultimate Football Association appointment, pretty much one of their own, to the blazer born.

But, of the many things you can take out of Gareth Southgate’s squad announcement, maybe the most significant one is that he is very much his own man.

“We have this thing about ‘an England captain’, but, really, the captain is the person who is captain in the next game.”

Hurrah to that. You can bet, though, the cheers were not ringing out in the FA’S commercial department.

They have pretty much had a captain as a poster player for as long as the national team has been fundamental to the organisation’s finances.

As normal, with any squad selection, there were elements that raised an eyebrow or two.

However frustrating Theo Walcott’s development has been over the years, he does have the type of pace and goal threat you might have thought Southgate could ill-afford to ignore.

But no matter what qualms he raised, Southgate has made one thing clear. He is no FA lackey. He is no soft touch.

THE Cheltenham Festival appears to go from strength to strength. Great crowds, great sport, great stories. Let’s just hope the overwhelming Irish dominance this year is not a sign of things to come. The Irish contribution MAKES the Festival, but the prospect of it becoming solely their party, to which the Brits happen to be invited, is not a great one. It is time for trainers here to up their game.