The midfielder, currently on pre-season tour with Liverpool in the United States, has stated that he supports Lee Casley, the England U21 manager, to become the senior national team’s head coach and looks forward to making his debut for the Three Lions soon.
Casley led the England U21 team to victory over Spain in the final last summer, securing the U21 European Championship title. Elliott was part of that Young Lions squad. Now, Casley’s name is among those being considered to replace Gareth Southgate as the senior national team’s manager. Other names in media speculation include Eddie Howe, Potter, and even Guardiola and Klopp. Some have questioned whether the former Everton midfielder is ready for such a significant role, but Elliott has no doubts about his ability to take on one of the toughest jobs in football.
Elliott said, “Lee is an incredible manager and an incredible person. He’s ready to make that step up. A lot of big clubs are looking at him, and [the nomination] is a credit to him and his coaching staff. Whenever I step onto the pitch for England, I can play freely and enjoy my football. I feel like Lee is ready, but it ultimately comes down to what he and the FA decide.”
Elliott is currently with Liverpool on their US tour for friendly matches. He missed out on this summer’s Euros, while his teammates Jones and Konsa were included in Southgate’s initial 33-man list. In fact, Elliott is yet to earn his first cap for the senior England team. Over the past year, he watched his U21 teammates Palmer, Colwill, and Anthony Gordon get promoted to the senior squad.
However, Elliott remains level-headed, saying, “Of course, I want to be selected, but the coaching staff have their own methods and the players they want to observe and pick. That’s their job. Meanwhile, I’m happy to have had a nice break. Last summer, I played in the U21 Euros, so I didn’t get a full break. So, this summer having some downtime, going home to see family, and preparing for this pre-season has been good for me. Especially with our new manager, I want to stay fresh and be ready for the new season.”