‘Party now before the hard work’

From Back Page the rest of the nation.’ Wilshere was handed an England recall in March for the friendly games against holland and italy, but withdrew 24 hours before the match in Amsterdam due to a minor knee injury.

he returned to fitness and his performances towards the end of the season led southgate to consider Wilshere for a place, but he did not make the final 23.

the Arsenal star’s outburst came on the day southgate gave his squad permission to cut loose before they start the hard work of rebuilding English football’s tattered reputation.

the manager revealed he went on a jaunt to party destination Magaluf with Aston Villa teammates in the lead-up to Euro 96. he then flew to hong Kong with England for a training camp that spawned the infamous, alcoholfuelled dentist’s chair incident.

But despite the potential for controversy before next month’s World Cup, southgate said: ‘i’m not interested in what they do over the next few days.

‘it’s four weeks before we have a game. Before Euro 96, i had three days in Magaluf with Aston Villa, so it would be a bit hypocritical of me to discuss what the correct preparation was.

‘i went for a run on a couple of mornings. it might have been a run back home rather than a run! travelling is not a big issue. Most of the players have gone away with their partners and they have young kids anyway.’

harry Kane is in the Bahamas and Jamie Vardy is in the Maldives, while Dele Alli and Kieran trippier have also taken the opportunity to go abroad.

southgate’s laid-back attitude represents a significant departure from the roy hodgson era.

Ahead of Euro 2016, hodgson’s England players were encouraged to stay at home. in the build-up to Euro 2012, captain Wayne rooney was condemned for drinking and gambling in las Vegas.

southgate witnessed the pitfalls of letting players go abroad when terry Venables’ Euro 96 squad partied in hong Kong. southgate stayed in when other players ventured out on a boozy night.

Paul Gascoigne, steve McManaman, robbie Fowler and teddy sheringham were among those photographed pouring drinks down each other’s throats.

England went on to reach the Euro 96 semi-finals.

southgate has warned his players to prepare for a summer of graft once they return from their holidays. he said: ‘When we’re in, we work, diet will be spot-on, the work we do will be correct and the focus will be intense.

‘i want them to relax and switch off but the closer we get to a tournament, we have to recognise the balance of all of that.’