John Barnes wants the Football Association to take a leaf out of Wales' book by allowing Gareth Southgate to foster a similar togetherness and belief with England.
This has been a year to forget for the Three Lions, with the excruciating Euro 2016 exit to Iceland and subsequent departure of Roy Hodgson compounded by the ignominious end to Sam Allardyce's brief reign.
Southgate was parachuted in for the final four matches of 2016 and can further his case for the permanent England job by beating Spain in a friendly on Tuesday evening.
Former winger Barnes, capped 79 times by his country, would not get carried away by such a result at Wembley, but hopes Southgate gets the permanent job and is allowed time to replicate Chris Coleman's excellent work with Wales.
"I have sympathy with Gareth because all of a sudden England are not going to be the best in the world, they're not going to be the best in Europe," Barnes told Press Association Sport.
"Potentially they can be very, very good but they are very young and inexperienced. You have to give them time, have to allow them to make mistakes.
"Take a leaf out of Wales' book. Chris Coleman didn't start off particularly well but they recognised that they didn't have a choice to stick with these players, stick with the manager.
"And because of that togetherness, that spirit and that belief, they've come through it. Now with Gareth, the same thing should happen."
Barnes, who was speaking at an event set up by England team sponsor Vauxhall, may be excited by the players' potential but it is now about them fulfilling it.
Adam Lallana had struggled to do that but is now flourishing under Jurgen Klopp, becoming one of England's best players in the process. The 28-year-old has shone during Liverpool's fine start to the campaign and netted in both of his previous England matches, having failed to score in his first 26 international appearances.
Lallana's last-gasp strike secured victory in Slovakia in Allardyce's first - and ultimately only - match at the helm, while his header against Scotland capped a man-of-the-match display in Friday's 3-0 win.
"He has been very impressive," Barnes said.
"He has always had the potential to do that. Now he is happier but this has to continue - it's 11 games into the season.
"I've always liked Adam Lallana, I always thought he had the potential and he has shown it in spurts. Now he is showing it more consistently, but showing it more consistently does not mean 11 games, it mean for five seasons.
"He is two-footed, he has got good awareness, he plays in the pockets, plays in the hole. He has got great awareness, good body position, good body shape on the ball, he takes it very well.
"People say he should score more goals, but he is what he is and I think Adam will score, he will create, he will be a good team player, work hard for the team.
"Everybody isn't going to be a Wayne Rooney in terms of scoring goals or Robbie Fowler, or as energetic as a Jordan Henderson. But I think he can cover a lot of it, so I think definitely for me he is one of the first names on the team sheet at Liverpool and England."
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Source: PA
