Gareth Southgate has insisted he is comfortable with the pressure and scrutiny that comes with the "unique" England job following the latest controversy to engulf his squad.
Ahead of tonight's Nations League qualifier against Denmark, Southgate was forced to send Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood home after the pair breached England's biosecure bubble by meeting two Icelandic women in the team hotel following their international debuts in Reykjavik.
The England manager had already removed Harry Maguire from his squad before Saturday's 1-0 win over Iceland, after the Manchester United defender's conviction in Greece, while he has also faced questions about high-profile breaches of lockdown by Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish during this camp.
Southgate has often made the England job look easy but he has faced criticism for his handling of Maguire's situation and accusations he was too soft on Foden, 20, and Greenwood, 18, after deciding against strongly condemning the pair yesterday.
The 50-year-old was reluctant to accept it on a permanent basis back in 2016, amid concerns over the impact of such a high-pressure role on his family, but after another day spent discussing controversy rather than football, Southgate insists he is comfortable with the expectations of the role.
"It is just unique," Southgate said of the England job. "I watched managers when I was younger who were in the role, and you recognise the attention and the pressure regarding football decisions and questions about absolutely everything that happens on the pitch and selection-wise.
"I obviously didn't have the insight to was all the external issues that you have to deal with. You're in a position where you're answerable pretty directly to government, you're in a situation where you're dealing with the Royal Family, dealing with the nation. You happen to be a spokesman for the nation.
"So it is completely unique. It has been great to get on the pitch and work with the players and when you see some of the players perform and enjoy their football and the camaraderie between them and the way they engage with each other that's what gives me the enjoyment.
"The rest, I have to park, and accept that as part of the job.
"I’m not naive to think that managing a big club is a walk in the park," he added.
"I’m comfortable as you can be with [the pressure]. That’s the task I took on and I knew that when the took role which is why I was slightly reticent.
"I was more worried about the implications for my own family really rather than just me.
"I’m big enough and experienced to deal with whatever’s said and will continue to do so. You know that every decision is going to be questioned and you know that you’ll find yourself in numerous situations and whatever decision you take, some people will agree with and some will disagree.
“You have to live with that and in the role of this responsibility there are innumerable privileges, to manage your country, to lead your country and wear the Three Lions is an unbelievable honour. That comes with a lot of other difficulties and I’m prepared to accept that.”
Southgate is expected to revert a back-three at Parken Stadium, with Wolves centre-half Conor Coady, Arsenal wing-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips all in line to start on their debuts.
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish will also be hoping for his England bow, with his chances having been boosted by the absence of Foden and Greenwood.
