Gareth Southgate happy with Marcus Rashford's mentality for England Under-21s

Gareth Southgate is pleased with Marcus Rashford's mentality entering England's Under-21 European Championship Qualifier against Norway.

The Manchester United striker's significant progress in the second half of last season saw him called up by former manager Roy Hodgson before Euro 2016. 

But he has now been called up to England's Under-21 squad after Sam Allardyce decided not to select him for England's senior squad, who beat Slovakia 1-0 on Sunday night.

Southgate believes the striker has smoothly settled into life already with the Under-21 squad ahead of their qualifier against Norway Under-21s on Tuesday.

"His mentality coming in to it has been excellent, showing real humility." he told Sky Sports News HQ.

"It will be easy if they have an experience with the senior team to come down and approach it in a different manner. But that's not been the case at all. You wouldn't know he hadn't been with the group before."

Southgate also says there is not necessarily a fixed plan over Rashford's international development and that, like any other Under-21 player, his progress will be tracked carefully.

"We will always review each month where we feel everybody is at," he added.

"It's not easy to be more precise because although Sam had four excellent forwards involved with the team yesterday [on Sunday] that might not be the case if there's injuries or suspensions if you go forward.

"Where we are clear is if there's players unlikely to be involved with playing with the senior team then there is always a good opportunity for them to have football with us."