It’s not just Harry Redknapp who can can perform a multitude of tasks simultaneously; Valencia’s Gary Neville will help select England’s final squad before Euro 2016 via a conference call from Spain before joining up with the team next week.
Neville refused to give up his England job when he was appointed by Valencia in December.
The former England and Manchester United right-back has endured a torrid time during his brief managerial reign in Spaina, but will still be joining Roy Hodgson’s squad during the international break as planned.
Neville is currently preparing for a Europa League last-16 match with Athletic Bilbao, but will spend part of the day finalising the England squad for the forthcoming friendlies in Germany and at home to Holland.
The phone call with Hodgson and coach Ray Lewington will select the squad that will be announced at Wembley on Thursday, and within a few hours Valencia hope to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit against their Spanish rivals and reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
Neville will also be in charge of Sunday’s league match against Celta Vigo, before travelling to the UK for the two friendly internationals.
How that trip will go down with the Valencia faithful remains to be seen. But given the club’s poor run of form since he took over, the risk of Neville further alienating an already disgruntled support remains very real.
