Southgate turns to Scots attack coach
ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate has enlisted a Scottish attacking coach to help the Auld Enemy shoot down Gordon Strachan’s men in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at Hampden. Allan Russell, a 36-year-old former
Kilmarnock player, was involved in training drills at St George’s Park yesterday with Harry Kane, Jermain Defoe, Dele Alli, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling. Glasgow-born Russell describes himself as the ‘world’s No 1 individual attacking coach’ on his Twitter profile and has worked with the likes of Stoke striker Saido Berahino and Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic. On his website, he explains that he uses ‘intricate statistics combined with detailed match and training analysis to strategise a complete striker training programme to take performance to the highest level’. Hired by Southgate on an ad-hoc basis, he worked collectively with England’s attacking players for part of the training session but his remit extends to working individually with players. For instance, Russell claims he can advise attacking players on the most productive areas to position themselves inside and outside the penalty area for shots on goal. It is understood his work with the FA extends to all age groups and the women’s team. After playing for a host of clubs including Hamilton, St Mirren, Partick Thistle and Killie, he ended his career in the US. Meanwhile, Fraser Forster insists his England team-mates must be wary of Leigh Griffiths producing a goal out of nothing on Saturday. The Celtic striker is set to win his 13th cap but is still awaiting a first international strike. However, Forster views his old colleague as a prime threat. The two players spent six months together at Parkhead before the goalkeeper made a £10million move to Southampton in the summer of 2014. ‘Leigh is a fantastic player,’ said Forster. ‘He has pace to stretch defences but can score from anywhere. It just takes half a chance or a split-second and he can punish you. ‘He has a very short backlift when he is shooting, so he can get the ball away quickly. ‘As a back four, you can think you have got him in a good position. Then, in a split-second, he can shift the ball and hit it.’ Forster will also be reunited with Celtic captain Scott Brown. Whether or not Brown could have thrived in English football has been a source of debate this week, but Forster is in no doubt about his quality. ‘Definitely, he is a top player,’ said the 29-year-old. ‘There is absolutely no reason why he couldn’t have done it down here.’