Alan Shearer has endorsed Lee Carsley to be the next permanent manager of England, despite the national anthem controversy surrounding the 50-year-old.
Carsley refused to sing God Save the King as the Three Lions beat both Ireland and Finland in their recent Nations League clashes.
Despite the backlash, however, the former Everton midfielder has impressed with the way he's got England playing.
The team, which was so often conservative under Gareth Southgate, played with far more freedom as they won their first two matches under Carsley - who is in charge of the team on an interim basis.
Alan Shearer has endorsed Lee Carsley to be the next permanent manager of England, despite the national anthem controversy surrounding the 50-year-old
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And Shearer, speaking to Betfair, has now endorsed Carsley to land the job on a permanent basis.
"It wouldn't surprise me if Lee Carsley was named the permanent manager now because what more can he do?" he said.
"He's had the two games, and the players have responded to him.
"Whenever the players have been interviewed over the last eight or nine days, they've spoken well about him too.
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"There are players who've worked with him before and he gave them an opportunity alongside the senior pros, and no-one let him down, they performed.
"The experienced players have also said they enjoyed the environment that he created so he's done his chances the world of good and it wouldn't surprise me at all if, in the coming weeks or months, he was given the job on a full-time basis."
One player who has flourished for England under Carsley is Jack Grealish.
The Manchester City star was left out of the squad for Euro 2024 this summer, despite previously being a regular under Southgate.
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That decision raised eyebrows, especially given how flat England looked going forward.
And Shearer believes Carsley's set-up has helped coax the best from the former Aston Villa star.
"Jack Grealish lined up in the No 10 role to begin with, but he was given the freedom to go and play wherever he wanted," he remarked.
"If one player moved from the left or the right then he could go and do that, and you could tell he was enjoying himself.
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Alan Shearer has lavished praise on Lee Carsley following his impressive start to life as England boss
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"He looked like the player that we saw at Aston Villa years ago when he was playing with great freedom, to go and do what he wanted and to get on the ball in any position that he wanted.
"When Jack moved toward the middle, we had the pace down either wing with [Anthony] Gordon or [Bukayo] Saka for when Harry Kane did come short, particularly in the game against the Republic of Ireland.
"We all saw that great run from Anthony Gordon when Kane came short, who ran in behind and had that opportunity which then created that first goal from the superb pass from Trent [Alexander-Arnold].
"That sums up the freedom that the players had, particularly in those positions.
Alan Shearer was pleased to see Lee Carsley get Jack Grealish back to his best during England's recent Nations League wins
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"Plenty of players played with freedom and an openness to go and express themselves which helped England."
Carsley will be hoping to continue his impressive start when England face Greece on October 10 (7.45pm).
They'll then do battle with Finland three days later.
