Southgate puts Sterling incident behind him

SHOWS: BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (THE FA - NO RESALES)

1. CAPTAIN HARRY KANE WALKS ON TO TRAINING PITCH FOLLOWED BY DECLAN RICE AND MASON MOUNT

2. KIERAN TRIPPIER, TYRONE MINGS AND JOHN STONES

3. ENGLAND MANAGER GARETH SOUTHGATE

WATFORD, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GARETH SOUTHGATE, ENGLAND MANAGER, SAYING:

"I think I have to always look at what is the right thing for the team to perform in the future, and ultimately that will be what's right for the country.

"Of course my decisions are the only ones that get tested by the game, and the outcomes of the game and what happens over the next months and years.

"So that's the cross you have to bear as the manager if you like, but I don't take enjoyment out of those sorts of things but you have to make decisions. When you're in charge of anything you have to make decisions and your decisions have consequences, whereas everybody else's opinions, their team never plays, they're never tested on the field.

BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (THE FA - NO RESALES)

5. HARRY KANE STRETCHING

6. HARRY MAGUIRE

WATFORD, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GARETH SOUTHGATE, ENGLAND MANAGER, SAYING:

"I think that we've dealt with everything as we have and the reason we've tried to do that as quickly as possible was to focus fully on the match. From the first football meeting yesterday morning that's been our sole focus, everybody's trained really well."

BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (THE FA - NO RESALES)

8. PLAYERS IN A HUDDLE

9. PLAYERS WARMING UP

10. STRIKER TAMMY ABRAHAM

WATFORD, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GARETH SOUTHGATE, ENGLAND MANAGER, SAYING:

"We will be very young for sure. I know against Spain it was one of the youngest teams we've fielded for decades, I've a feeling we'll be younger than that tomorrow without having a chance to work it out.

"That obviously has some weaknesses but it has some enormous strengths as well in terms of the enthusiasm, energy, motivation, and I think it's a team that will excite people."

BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (THE FA - NO RESALES)

12. JOE GOMEZ AND OTHERS TRAINING

13. RAHEEM STERLING AND OTHERS

WATFORD, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARRY MAGUIRE SAYING:

"I think you've seen how good the unity in the squad is over the last couple of years. It's been a good two years and the group has grown together and we're keeping on growing and that's really important. And no, definitely no cliques, we all share tables, share laughs and joke together."

BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 13, 2019) (THE FA - NO RESALES)

15. PLAYERS TRAINING

16. STERLING CHASING THE BALL

17. GOMEZ TRAINING

18. ENGLAND TRAINING SESSION

STORY: England manager Gareth Southgate insisted on Wednesday (November 13) that his team will be fully focused on their Euro 2020 qualifying match against Montenegro at Wembley and not the recent altercation between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez.

Southgate axed Sterling for Thursday's game at Wembley after an incident in the canteen at their St. George's Park training facility on Monday.

The pair had squared off at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday where Sterling's Manchester City were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool, with Gomez coming on as a late substitute in the top-of-the-table battle.

Sterling remains with the squad and could feature in Sunday's qualifier away to Kosovo.

Southgate has come in for criticism from some former players over his decision to drop Sterling, who has become a key player for England in the past year after being criticised for his displays at the 2018 World Cup.

Last season he was named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association after scoring 25 goals in all competitions as City won a domestic treble of the Premier League title and the two Cup competitions.

For England, Sterling has scored 12 goals in 55 games but has been a regular under Southgate and scored twice in the recent 6-0 win away to Bulgaria.

Southgate said that while other people have their opinions only his are tested in reality, adding that the team he selects for tomorrow's match could be the youngest ever to start a match.

England top Group A and will guarantee a place at the finals with a draw against Montenegro. They face another qualifier on Sunday away to Kosovo in which Sterling could feature.

(Production: Andy Ragg)