Gareth Southgate has warned England’s Under 21s they have no margin for error in tonight’s European U21 Championship qualifier against Norway.
England currently top Group 9 and with matches to come against Kazakhstan and Bosnia & Herzegovina, Southgate said: “This game is key in terms of the qualification, but then they all have been as it’s only a five-team group.
"The standard of the group that we’re in compared to last time is much higher.”
England senior boss Sam Allardyce is set to attend the match in Colchester, fresh from winning his first game in charge against Slovakia on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Southgate believes fearless Marcus Rashford has the right mentality to potentially emulate some of the country's biggest international stars.
Southgate is set to hand the Manchester United striker an Under-21 debut against Norway in Colchester after Rashford dropped down from the senior squad following his inclusion at Euro 2016.
Ex-Aston Villa defender Southgate played when Michael Owen, current senior skipper Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard made their debuts and feels Rashford is cut from the same cloth.
"It is an interesting point," he said, ahead of the Under-21s' Euro 2017 qualifier. "One of the elements you are very aware of in all of those players is that they're not fazed by anything that is thrown at them.
"That would seem to be what has happened so far with Marcus and I'm sure that could influence the path."
Slovakia vs England: In Pictures
Southgate takes charge of the U21s tonight for the first time since initially being favourite to replace Roy Hodgson as senior boss in the summer.
Former Middlesbrough boss Southgate was never offered the top job and, speaking for the first time about the speculation, said he was not ready to take it anyway and hinted at a desire to return to club management in the future.
"I was very clear in my mind that there are other things I want to do first," he added.
"It is one of the ultimate jobs and you want every skill set possible when you go into it. Sam has years and years of experience.
"I am fiercely ambitious, there is no question about that, so I wouldn't want it to be seen that I'm not. I know how far I've come since I left Middlesbrough."
