England are top of their qualifying group, but second placed Montenegro are a point behind with a game in hand against San Marino.

"The good thing is that if it is a dog fight, we know we can stay and take part in a dog fight. We took part in a few during the Euros and we certainly dug in against Poland and showed the right sort of character and the right type of determination.

"If it's a dog fight, then it's a dog fight. There will be some groups where one team shoots away and others where it's going to be quite close to the end. I still think that we will improve.

"We have a lot of younger players who are still finding their way at international level and we have a few who are to come back. If you'd said to me, given the circumstances, that we'd have eight points and been unbeaten, I'd have been happy to accept that."