Southgate's side stage spirited fightback at the Riverside

WHO needs Harry Kane? After a week that has been dominated by discussions over the Tottenham forward’s availability for this summer’s European Under-21 Championships, the players currently at Gareth Southgate’s disposal successfully pushed their own claims for a starting spot in the Czech Republic.

That they did so by beating Germany at a packed Riverside Stadium was especially notable, with their opponents sure to be one of the favourites come the end of the season. When it comes to preparing for a major tournament, any win over the Germans is to be cherished.

Southgate’s players had to show their steely side to claim the success, with Germany twice claiming the lead through Philipp Hofmann, only to be pegged back on each occasion.

England’s goals were all the result of some slick attacking play, with Jesse Lingard slotting home before the interval, and both Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse finding the target in a hectic three-minute spell towards the end of the second half.

A European Championship group that also features Italy, Sweden and Portugal will not offer any easy pickings, but after failing to win a single game in their last Under-21 finals appearance under Stuart Pearce, England’s youngsters appear to be in a much better state this time around. For that, Southgate deserves a large amount of credit.

The former Middlesbrough manager has attempted to develop an England Under-21 side that is comfortable in possession, and the fruits of his labour were apparent throughout last night’s game.

Mirroring the 4-3-3 system that Roy Hodgson has adopted for England’s senior matches, the hosts were patient and methodical whenever they had the ball, with Brighton’s Jake Forster-Caskey adopting the main orchestrator’s role at the heart of midfield.

Derby’s Will Hughes and Southampton’s Ward-Prowse played on either side of him, and there was plenty of efficient interplay as England attempted to construct a series of neat moves in the German half.

If there was a weakness in the home side’s early play, it came in the final third, with Danny Ings occasionally finding himself isolated as he led the line. By the final whistle, however, that issue had been addressed.

It was the 22nd minute before England fashioned their first attempt on target, with Lingard stabbing Nathan Redmond’s cross towards goal, only for goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to produce a routine block.

The contrast with Germany’s early attacking threat was marked, chiefly because the visitors were prepared to commit a large number of men forward from the word go, and also because in Hofmann, they possessed the most clinical attacker on display.

The Kaiserslautern striker was celebrating his 22nd birthday yesterday, and after scoring seven goals in his previous 13 appearances at Under-21 level, he took his tally to eight with a superb opener after 15 minutes. A ninth would arrive shortly after the interval.

Max Meyer played the ball into him from the left-hand side for the opening strike, and after taking one touch to get the ball under control, Hofmann swivelled in the area before dispatching a crisp low finish into the bottom right-hand corner. It was an excellent finish from a youngster who is making quite a name for himself in the German Second Division.

Ings boasts Premier League experience with Burnley, although if the rumours are to be believed, he could find himself playing in either the Bundesliga or Spain when his contract at Turf Moor expires in the summer.

Wherever he ends up, the 22-year-old will be a considerable asset, and he was the spearhead for England’s first fight-back towards the end of the first half.

Cutting in from the right-hand side and driving at a back-tracking German back four, he forced a fine sprawling save out of ter Stegen, before forcing the goalkeeper into action again with a header from the resultant corner.

Lingard’s follow-up effort was a weak affair, but the Derby youngster, who is on loan at Pride Park from Manchester United, made amends as he fired England level moments later.

West Ham full-back Carl Jenkinson was the architect of the goal, surging 40 yards down the right-hand side before moving the ball infield to Lingard, who swept home a slick first-time finish from just inside the area.

Parity was the least England deserved for their strong finish to the first half, although Germany would have reclaimed their lead had Jonathan Bond not produced a smart save to keep out Emre Can’s free-kick.   

The visitors’ second did arrive five minutes after the interval, and again it was Hofmann inflicting the damage.

Julian Korb crossed from the right-hand side, and while his centre took a slight deflection, Hofmann reacted quickest to steal ahead of his marker and slide home a close-range finish from inside the six-yard box.

Buoyed by their restored advantage, Germany strove to put the game out of reach, but Bond produced a fine low save to keep out Meyer’s deflected strike.

With the pattern of the second half mirroring that of the first, England gradually grew in stature after a slow start after the break, and Redmond claimed the hosts’ second equaliser in the 79th minute.

There appeared to be little on when the Norwich winger picked up the ball on the right-hand edge of the area, but he dispatched a fierce low strike that beat ter Stegen with the aid of a slight deflection.

Suddenly, England were buoyant, and just three minutes later, they were ahead for the first time. As was the case with Lingard’s goal, the success owed much to the industry of Jenkinson down the right-hand side, with the full-back wriggling free before rolling the ball in to Ward-Prowse.

The skipper’s driving runs from midfield were a key feature of England’s play all night, and after advancing into the area, he calmly stroked home from the heart of the box.