GARETH SALUTES SUMMER

ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate has hailed an ‘incredible summer’ for the nation following plenty of tournament success — but knows a lot of the young talent on display still face a battle for first-team action. Southgate watched the England Under 20s win the World Cup and the Toulon Tournament, while the Under 19s lifted the European Championship. Both the Under 21s and Under 17s lost on penalties in their respective European championships. And Southgate admits the challenge for the Young Lions is to break into their club sides if they are to make the senior England squad in the coming years. ‘It has been an incredible summer, we may never get another summer like it again where every team does so well,’ he said. ‘But it is impossible to pick players (for England) if they are not playing regular football. ‘That is the challenge for those boys — they now have to go back to their clubs and force their way in.’