England v North Macedonia: Players tapping up team-mates, jokes Gareth Southgate

England apical their qualifying radical having won each 3 of their fixtures

England manager Gareth Southgate joked his players volition beryllium "tapping up" team-mates portion connected planetary work but says the absorption remains connected facing North Macedonia astatine Old Trafford connected Monday.

"I haven't felt the request to accidental anything," laughed Southgate.

"The players are tapping each different up anyhow connected the quiescent truthful I can't bash thing astir that!"

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is simply a semipermanent people of Arsenal, portion determination is speculation astir Leicester City's James Maddison aft the Foxes' relegation from the Premier League.

England skipper Harry Kane's aboriginal is besides being talked astir arsenic helium enters the past twelvemonth of his declaration astatine Tottenham Hotspur.

"What I person said is these things tally their course, they hap successful their ain time, you can't unit it arsenic a player. Don't get frustrated, don't beryllium asking each summer," added Southgate.

"You don't request to beryllium updated connected each telephone that happens. A batch of dialog goes on.

"I retrieve arsenic a subordinate getting excessively wrapped up successful each item of that. In the end, determination is lone a tiny magnitude that you tin really control.

"I deliberation each of those things volition hap aboriginal connected successful the summertime and I deliberation the players recognize that."

England are apical of European Championship qualifying Group C connected maximum points aft 3 games arsenic they look to scope the tourney successful Germany adjacent summer.

"They cognize the absorption for the adjacent 36 hours is this game," said Southgate. "Finishing the play well, making definite we're acceptable connected 12 points.

"We volition beryllium successful a precise steadfast presumption if we bash that."

Luke Shaw is 1 subordinate who has been joking with his team-mates astir their futures, posting pictures connected Instagram with Rice and Kane connected a 'Carrington tour' of Manchester United's grooming ground, wherever the England squad are preparing for the location lucifer against North Macedonia.

Chelsea's Mason Mount is besides linked with a determination to Manchester United and the Blues person had a £40m connection rejected.

"Obviously, helium is not present but I deliberation it is each conscionable a spot of banter really," Shaw said.

"We person a gag and a laughter astir it. (I'm) not excessively definite what goes connected down the scenes.

"It is to bash with the nine truly but of people erstwhile we are present we are ever unneurotic and we person a gag astir it."