TOP SHOT JAKE SO EAGER TO SPARKLE

JAKE GALLAGHER is the only player in today’s England C squad who played against Slovakia two years ago.

The Aldershot Town midfielder came off the bench that afternoon as Non-League’s Three Lions narrowly lost 1-0 to their technically gifted opponents.

Gallagher is set to win his eighth cap today, if selected, and his experience will be key for a good result.

He played the full game in England’s engine room alongside captain Alex Woodyard against Ukraine in March.

While the 2-0 victory came from a commanding performance, he doesn’t think this afternoon will play out the same way.

“I know Slovakia will have different players to when we played them last time, but they were a very good side,” he said.“It was a game of very few chances and, although we didn’t have much of the ball, we defended really well.

“In the end they scored a screamer in the last ten minutes, which was disappointing. So it’s definitely going to be a tough game and I don’t think we’ll have as much of the ball as we did in Ukraine.

“But Paul Fairclough said it earlier, the boys have been brilliant. They’re really hungry and energetic so it’s good. Everyone’s ready to go.”

Gallagher finished the season as Aldershot’s player of the year. It was quite the comeback after a tricky start to his Shots career that saw him sent off three times.

“I did alright in the first few games but I got frustrated in a game and got sentoff,” he said.“Then I came back and was too eager and I had some stuff off the pitch with my wife trying to get her visa to come over from New Zealand.

“Once that got cleared up by November I only got three bookings in 26 games. I want to take that into next season with good performances as well.”