Lee leaves assistant role as Southgate seeks his own man

Sammy Lee has left his role as England assistant as manager Gareth Southgate begins the process of building his own backroom team.

Lee was drafted in as right-hand man in the Sam Allardyce regime, which lasted only one match and 67 days before a newspaper sting operation cost the latter his job.

Southgate retained Lee’s services during his four-game interim spell but, having secured a four-year contract, is looking for fresh ideas.

Lee is the second Allardyce appointee, after Leicester coach Craig Shakespeare, to be moved on by the former Middlesbrough boss.

The future of a third, goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson, is yet to be confirmed.

Southgate thanked the 57-yearold for his assistance in preparing the squad for games against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain.

“I have great respect for Sammy,” said Southgate.

“He is somebody who I worked with as a player and his personality and professionalism were excellent throughout my period as interim manager.

“I felt it was important for me to bring in my own support team and Sammy fully respected that.”

Southgate wants Chelsea’s Steve Holland to be his full-time number two, though that is complicated somewhat by the Blues’ Premier League title bid.

Holland has worked alongside Southgate at under-21 and senior level on a job-split basis, but is understood to favour a permanent role with the national side.

Defender Joel Matip is set to give Liverpool a boost by being fit for Sunday’s Premier League clash with West Ham at Anfield.

The 25-year-old has been the stand-out performer in the Reds’ shaky back-line since joining the club from Schalke this summer.

Liverpool have only once conceded more than a single goal with the Cameroon international in the side and have not lost a game.