Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce believes Steve McClaren will be back coaching in England one day - but maintains it is not like the former national team manager has simply "disappeared off the face of the earth".
Pearce - whose youngsters will get the chance to play at Wembley on Saturday when they take on Portugal in a European Championship qualifier - recently visited McClaren in Holland, where he is having great success with FC Twente. And Pearce believes the 48-year-old, who had worked as assistant to Sven-Goran Eriksson, still has plenty to offer the game.
"I am sure some time in the future he will come back to English football, but it is not like suggesting he has disappeared off the face of the earth or fallen down a black hole. He hasn't," Pearce said. "I spoke to Steve briefly at Sir Bobby Robson's memorial, about the tactical side of the game in Holland. I found what he said very interesting."
He added: "I felt it was important to go and see an English coach working abroad, how he was finding it tactically.
"I watched a couple of their matches, and then watched some of the youngsters.
"It was fantastically beneficial.
"Steve is a very good coach, he always has been and is enjoying his time there, which is good to see.
"His experience in Holland will enlighten him as a coach.
"Twente are riding high in the Dutch league at the moment, so they are obviously doing something right."
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