REVEALED: Why Adam Lallana has been training with England’s U21 side in the international break… as the Brighton midfielder eyes new career

Adam Lallana has been training with England’s U21 team ahead of their games against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.

The 35-year-old last played for his country in 2018 at the age of 29, having made a total of 34 caps for the Three Lions since making his debut in 2013.

He won’t play for the senior team again as he sees out the final days of his career at Brighton, but fans were left scratching their heads when they say him training with players over a decade his junior this week.

While Lallana has struggled with injury issues for the majority of his career, he has made 19 Premier League appearances this season and will have his eyes on helping Brighton qualify for Europe once again this season.

But while it may initially have been unclear why he was with the Young Lions this week, the reason has now been revealed.

Lallana was spotted heading out to training in a post shared on England’s social media channels

Lallana made the last of his 34 senior caps back in 2019 and won the Player of the Year award in 2016

Lallana is starting his coaching badges and is learning in a player-coach role before he chooses to retire from playing.

The 2016 England Player of the Year was seen running out to train on a video shared by England’s social media pages.

Lallana started his role in September following England’s success at the U21 European Championships last summer.

Speaking of his new role in his first month in the job, the midfielder said: ‘It was an amazing insight for me into what may lie in the future, I was delighted with the opportunity and thankful to Brighton and Roberto [De Zerbi] for not just being happy for me to go, but excited that I got the opportunity.

He is looking to build his coaching experience and has worked in a player-coach role with the Young Lions

He first took up the role with Lee Carsley’s side in September and has led some sessions

‘I was involved in training and took a few little bits, just being that bridge between the coaches and the players. I am still playing in the Premier League so I will still experience the same things as those boys – frustrations, losing and winning as a player.

‘When you’re young you want everything now, you can be inpatient, so I can help in those areas, while also getting an opportunity to see the blueprint of being a successful coach.’

Lallana is out of contract at Brighton at the end of the season.