Gareth Southgate has encouraged an atmosphere within the England Under-21 squad which gives them every chance of success at the European Championships, according to England assistant manager Ray Lewington.
Under-21s head coach Southgate will put his side through a final warm-up match against Belarus in Barnsley on Thursday night before attention focuses on the trip to the Czech Republic, where England face a testing group with Portugal, Sweden and Italy.
Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson was keen to allow Southgate a free hand in selecting his squad, which includes the likes of Tottenham forward Harry Kane, West Brom's Saido Berahino and Danny Ings, who is set to sign for Liverpool from Burnley, as well as Arsenal defender Calum Chambers and John Stones of Everton.
Lewington revealed the international management team were keen to help maintain a sense of togetherness which had helped the Young Lions through an impressive unbeaten qualification campaign.
"From Gareth's point of view, he has had a group of players who have worked really well, played together and got England qualified and I think they have got a reasonable chance. I think he didn't want to spoil that atmosphere that they had built up," said Lewington, speaking exclusively to Kevin Clarke, winner of the Carlsberg People's Pundit on talkSPORT.
"Yes he has taken one or two players that have been in the senior squad, but I think he's also kept loyal to the players that have actually got them there who are, in themselves, very good players.
"So I think he's tried to strike a balance by staying loyal, but also bringing in one or two faces that perhaps hadn't played all the games leading up to the tournament in qualification."
Lewington sees no reason to believe why England cannot continue to develop their game to compete with the very best.
"We have been behind technically for a while, but we are catching up and are catching up very quickly, so I think in the next five years we will match up to teams in terms of technique, there is no doubt about that," he added.
"The one fundamental thing we need to do is have players who are comfortable on the ball, who can play in tight areas, who when we haven't got the ball work hard - all the things Barcelona have shown us in the last four or five years."
Lewington has been helping the senior squad prepare for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania.
It has so far been a faultless campaign for Hodgson's men, with five wins out of five as they look to reach next summer's finals in France.
The campaign, though, has also been a first since the retirement of captain Steven Gerrard.
It is a void at the heartbeat of the team which Lewington accepts will take some time to fill.
"The one thing that you notice working with Stevie is for one, off the field he's an incredibly nice fella, very modest, eager to come in and give his thoughts - he's totally honest. The other thing that really strikes you is you don't realise what a good player he is," said Lewington.
"After the first few training sessions I said to Roy "bloody hell he's good you know". He's a special player and someone we'll miss. He's hard to replace, but we will."
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Source: PA
