Southgate wants more energy against Danes

Manager might change formation after rusty display

Gareth Southgate is contemplating changes in personnel and tactics against Denmark as the England manager looks to inject energy into a side that toiled to victory in Iceland.

The Three Lions made their longawaited return to action on Saturday, although their display after 10 months away was rusty against the disciplined and dogged hosts in Reykjavik.

Raheem Sterling’s last-gasp penalty was followed by an even later spot-kick miss by Birkir Bjarnason as a forgettable Nations League fixture ended in a 1-0 win against their Euro 2016 foes.

But the tepid performance underlined alack ofsharpness causedbyatruncated – and in some cases non-existent – preseason at club level, leaving Southgate pondering how to approach Tuesday’s clash against Denmark.

He said: “We’ll have to assess really carefully because there’s lots of different factors in that. We’re going to need energy for sure at this stage of the season. We knew that was going to be a huge challenge. That’s part of the reason we thought the five subs would be in for this. I didn’t quite understand that. They put them in for the under-21s last night.

“For us, the Nations League was the perfect opportunity to do it. When it was voted through, I didn’t think for the league it would be appropriate but I felt for the Nations League, this September camp was going to be difficult on player fitness. Anyway, that isn’t the case so we’re going to have to work through it.”

Southgate has to decide how many of Saturday’s starters can push through on to Tuesday, when he may well be tempted to revert to a three-man backline flanked by wing-backs given the options at his disposal.

Conor Coady and Ainsley MaitlandNiles look to have been brought in with that formation in mind, while fellow uncapped players Dean Henderson, Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish are also dreaming of their bow in Denmark.

Manchester United teenager Mason Greenwood came off the bench for his debut in Reykjavik, where Phil Foden got his first international start.

● Steven Davis is not planning on hanging up his boots any time soon as he stands ready to match Pat Jennings’ caps record with Northern Ireland.

The 35-year-old will make his 119th international appearance when Northern Ireland face Norway tonight at Windsor Park in the Nations League, moving him level with the goalkeeping great whose international career spanned more than two decades between 1964 and 1986.

The Rangers midfielder said: “It’s hard for me to sum up in words. To match an icon like Pat is something I will be able to look back on more when I finish playing and be delighted with.”

Asked when that day might come, Davis said he will continue to take each season as it comes with no desire to walk away from the game yet.

He added: “I just want to enjoy my football and hopefully I’ll still be OK physically when the end of the season comes. That’s the approach I learnt from Aaron Hughes and Gareth McAuley, who played until their late 30s, great examples for me to follow.”