Adam Lallana was seen with England's Under-21 squad at St George's Park as players made their way onto the training pitch.

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Lallana present at England U-21 trainingBrighton midfielder starting to coachFirst linked up with England in SeptemberWHAT HAPPENED?

When England posted a video of day one of this month's training camp, some fans couldn't get their head around 35-year-old Lallana being with the group of Young Lions as it initially gave the impression that the Brighton veteran was just another member of the squad.

AdvertisementTHE EXPLANATION

Even though he's still playing fairly regularly with Brighton – 19 Premier League appearances so far this season – Lallana already has an eye on the future and his role with England's Under-21 squad is in a coaching capacity. The midfielder first took on the role during the September international break, mentoring the next generation of England players and honing his own coaching skills.

WHAT LALLANA SAID

Speaking about his experience with England after his first camp with the squad in September, Lallana said: "It was an amazing insight for me into what may lie in the future, I was delighted with the opportunity and thankful to Brighton and Roberto [De Zerbi] for not just being happy for me to go, but excited that I got the opportunity.

"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.

"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."

DID YOU KNOW?

Lallana was named England's senior men's player of the year in 2016 ahead of Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney in second and third respectively. But with injuries later taking a toll on his club career, he played his last England game in 2018 at the age of just 29.