England

Gary Neville: 'England need time to gel'

By Steven Toplis, ReporterPublished: 24 March 2015 11:48 AM

England coach Gary Neville believes that Roy Hodgson's squad will need time to gel after spending four months away from international duty.

England coach Gary Neville has stressed that the Three Lions squad will need time to gel after "an age" away.

Roy Hodgson's men face Lithuania at Wembley in their Euro 2016 qualifier this Friday, having not played since the 3-1 friendly victory over Scotland in November.

Neville will help to lead a 23-man squad this week with Hodgson and assistant boss Ray Lewington, but the former defender has admitted that four months off from international duty makes preparations more difficult.

"For Roy, Ray and myself, it's about getting to know the players again," Neville told Sky Sports News.

"Four months is an age. In the summer you only go about six weeks from the end of one season to the start of another pre-season so it's about reintroducing them to England thinking.

"I imagine Tuesday will be about bedding them in and get them used to being with England again before starting to think about that important qualifier against Lithuania on Friday."

England follow up the Lithuania game with a friendly against Italy next Tuesday.