Ward-Prowse ready to help Southgate new boys tune in

JAMES WARD-PROWSE is ready to embrace the challenge of being England’s new Under 21 captain. The Southampton midfielder takes the armband from Jack Butland and will lead his team out for the first time tonight in a friendly against USA Under 23s at Preston. This is a new era for Gareth Southgate’s squad — he called up 14 uncapped players in the original 23-man squad — and Ward-Prowse is conscious that some may be enduring difficulties adjusting. He has set up a group on his phone to send out messages so they can keep in contact when back at their clubs and will organise a date when they can link up away from the games to get know each other better. ‘It is always tough at the start,’ said Ward-Prowse. ‘It is just a case of doing events outside football to make sure everyone feels a part of it. ‘We don’t do singing initiations here. I might think of bringing it in, actually, as it would be interesting to hear some of the voices! ‘I haven’t got anything in mind yet but I will have to speak to the lads. I’ll see what is best for the lads and then get us together.’

ENGLAND U21 (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Gomez, Dier, Chambers, Targett; Ward-Prowse, Chalobah; Redmond, Loftus-Cheek, Ibe; Wilson.

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