Brighton midfielder Adam Lallana spotted training with the England under-21s

Adam Lallana has been training with Lee Carsley's England under-21s side ahead of their European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan on Friday.

The 35-year-old midfielder was approached to join the U21 coaching set-up last year in a role that would allow him to act as a mentor to the younger players.

After his first international break in September, where the U21s picked up a 3-0 win over Luxembourg, Lallana opened up on working with the youth side in a player-coach role.

He said it gave him an "amazing insight into what may lie in the future".

Lallana told Brighton's official website: “I was involved in training and took a few little bits, just being that bridge between the coaches and the players.

"I am still playing in the Premier League so I will still experience the same things as those boys – frustrations, losing and winning as a player."

He added: “When you’re young you want everything now, you can be inpatient, so I can help in those areas, while also getting an opportunity to see the blueprint of being a successful coach.”

Lallana, who won 34 England caps during spells at Southampton and Liverpool, has already made an impact on one of brightest young talents in England.

Levi Colwill praised the midfielder for the role he played in his development during a loan spell at Brighton.

“I am someone who is a chilled person and sometimes I need someone to give me a bit of a push," Colwill said.

“At first I did not really understand why he (Adam) was always on at me in training.

"He would give me compliments, if I needed them. If I was struggling a bit, he asked me if I was alright.

"If I was doing well, he would push me to make sure I was still doing well. He would always communicate. He was always putting his arm around me."

35 year-old Adam Lallana is currently training with England U21s… Learning in a player/coach role 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

He’s studying for his coaching badges… And has spent the last few international duties with the 21s 🫡 Big opportunity for the young players to learn off someone who’s played… pic.twitter.com/UnKkOswwh0

— Rising Ballers (@RisingBallers_) March 19, 2024

Lallana has played under some high profile managers during his 17-year professional career, including Roberto De Zerbi; someone he clearly admires.

Speaking to The Telegraph last year, the experienced midfielder gave an insight into his manager's dedication to becoming the best.

“The manager? I don’t know how he does it," Lallana said. "The prep for every game. He will have his Italian coaches around his house, the chef cooking food, watching games, it’s his life.

"His family are in Italy and he sacrifices so much. He puts everything into it. It is not luck, I will tell you that. He is obsessed. Puffing on them fags [cigarettes], no wonder. He’s a different breed.”