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Hodgson to manage England U21s against Scotland

Roy Hodgson will take charge of both the Under-21 and senior sides against Scotland in August © Getty Images

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England manager Roy Hodgson will take charge of the Under-21 side when they face Scotland on August 13 at Bramall Lane, one day before the senior sides meet at Wembley.

The Football Association is yet to appoint a permanent successor for Stuart Pearce, whose time as Under-21 coach came to an end following England's group stage exit at the European Championships in Israel earlier this summer.

Hodgson offered to step in on a temporary basis, along with Ray Lewington, to freshen up the selection of the squad.

"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," Hodgson said. "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 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 senior and Under-21 squads will train alongside one another at St George's Park ahead of the two fixtures against Scotland. Gary Neville will take charge of the senior team while Hodgson and Lewington are with the Under-21s in Sheffield.

The Under-21s' first competitive fixture will take at the Madejski Stadium on September 5 against Moldova, their first qualifier ahead of Euro 2015.

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