Dele Alli and Adam Lallana excite new boss

Gareth Southgate believes Dele Alli and Adam Lallana’s energy and attacking threat offers England a “very exciting” option moving forwards.

Lukas Podolski’s stunning strike on his 130th and final Germany appearance secured the hosts a 1-0 win on Wednesday night, but the world champions know they were fortunate to emerge unscathed against the Three Lions.

An all too familiar lack of cutting edge cost England in Dortmund, although Southgate was proud of his side’s display in a bold, attack-minded side built upon a three-man backline.

Jamie Vardy epitomised the visitors’ aggressive intent, but it was Alli and Lallana’s pressing and movement that really caught the eye in Germany.

“I think Dele and Adam – and Jesse (Lingard) as well – are fantastic at finding space between that line, between the midfield and defence of the opposition,” manager Southgate said after his first match since taking the reins permanently. But they are also brilliant at sensing the right moments to press and win the ball.

“I think in the past maybe creative players haven’t always had the work ethic those two have. You know, they cover a phenomenal amount of distance and that allows you to get pressure on the opposition.

“It is not as if we are carrying those creative players. They put in as much as work as everybody else. I think it is very exciting for what we can do moving forwards.”

The manner of performance and type of player required for that system raises questions about how Wayne Rooney would fit into Southgate’s thinking.

Meanwhile, the three-man defence looked promising despite there being precious little time on the training field to perfect it, with Michael Keane impressing on his debut alongside Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill.

“We had to be a bit creative in how we did it,” the England boss said with a smile as he explained how he drilled the team.

“England’s attention now turns to Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.

Southgate’s players stayed overnight in Essen after the friendly and used the training complex at 2. Bundesliga side Bochum before heading home from Germany.

Cahill, the Three Lions’ captain at Signal Iduna Park, will miss Sunday’s match at Wembley through suspension and, despite Phil Jones’ withdrawal with a toe injury, Southgate has yet to decide on any changes to his squad.

“Not sure yet,” the England boss added after the match. “We’ll just assess over the next 24 hours if we have picked up any other knocks.

“I am not aware of anything significant at the moment so if that is the case we wouldn’t.”

Picture: PA. Dele Alli has been praised by England gaffer Gareth Southgate for his work ethic.