England manager Roy Hodgson to take charge of Under-21 clash against Scotland
National coach will take charge of the youth team while search continues for Stuart Pearce's replacement
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Your support makes all the difference.The Football Association have announced that Roy Hodgson will take charge of the Under-21's match against Scotland on August 13, just a day before the senior sides are due to meet at Wembley.
The match, which will take place at Bramall Lane, will kick-off a weekend battle against the 'Auld Enemy' as a prelude to the Wembley clash. It had been hoped that the chosen replacement for Stuart Pearce would have been in charge for the tie, but instead Hodgson will get a chance to work with the younger talent emerging through the rank.
Meanwhile, the search will continue for a new manager, following Pearce's departure after the FA failed to extend his contract following a dismal campaign at the Under-21 European Championships, that saw Pearce's squad fail to score a single point and score just one goal in three group matches.
The Under 21's next game is scheduled for Thursday September 5 against Moldova, and the FA are confident a new manager will be in place in time to take charge of that clash, with the venue also yet to be confirmed.
Hodgson said: "There is an opportunity while the recruitment process goes on for me to work with this squad for this fixture, and it is something I very much wanted to do.
"Following the tournament in the summer a number of players are now too old for the age group, so we will look at a new batch and I'm keen to work closely on the training field with them for the few days before the game at Bramall Lane.
"I watch the under-21 fixtures and I was in Israel for the (European Championship) tournament, but as a coach nothing can beat the training field and the team hotel for getting to know players properly. In a World Cup year it makes absolute sense while there is the chance to do it."
The new manager of the Under-21's will have control of the rest of the younger age groups, in a move that the FA hope will create better consistency across the board for the national teams.
Club England managing director Adrian Bevington said: "This should ensure a consistency of style across all our teams.
"We are managing an open recruitment process for this role and expect to have a new coach in position for the September qualifying games."
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