Lee Carsley has successfully navigated his first two matches as interim England manager, with the September international break winding down to a close.
The Three Lions were in UEFA Nations League action, taking on the Republic of Ireland and Finland in a fresh test for the head coach.
Carsley previously had success at the under-21s level with the national team, winning the European Championships under his guidance.
Plenty of the current senior England squad was part of that pathway, whether it was in that cup-winning squad or just before it.
Anthony Gordon, Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White were just a few who cemented themselves in the youth ranks under Carsley.
So too was Marc Guehi, who has recently seen himself become a key part of the England backline after some impressive performances for Crystal Palace.
Marc Guehi gives verdict on Lee Carsley as interim England manager
So with victories over the Republic of Ireland and Finland under his belt, Carsley has finally got a test of senior international management and all of the external and internal factors that may influence it.
Following the victory at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, Crystal Palace star Guehi gave his verdict on the interim manager and how the camp went.
He told reporters: “I’ve enjoyed it [the camp]. Obviously having worked with him [Lee Carsley] in the under-21s before is a big help, so I kind of understand exactly what he wants from us.
“It’s exactly the same, not much difference: short connections, enjoy playing together and making sure that we’re a team who establishes control in games and has that throughout the game.
“Ultimately, we’re attacking, trying to score goals – those are the main messages. I think it suits everyone, to be honest.
“Every single person in this team is good on the ball, and we need to show that even more so. What he’s asking from us isn’t something new, in a way, but it’s something we can do a little bit more of.
“It’s been a good camp. There’s not been too much difference. It’s always enjoyable coming back with the boys.
“There’s good banter off the pitch, enjoying each other’s company, and the training’s been really intense, really good, so it’s been good.”
While there’s a glowing endorsement there, it remains to be seen whether the FA will hand the job to the 50-year-old, or if there will be a wait to see how he handles the remaining two international breaks this calendar year.
Should Lee Carsley get the England job permanently?
So with the September international break now out of the way, there is a clearer idea of what Carsley’s England teams may look like.
While there will certainly be tougher opposition in the future, the clashes with smaller nations are what qualification campaigns and early tournament runs are built on.
It may be too early to tell if the interim should be handed the full-time job, but endorsements from players have all been positive so far.
Add to that his winning experience and a fresh balance to the team on the pitch and it all points towards a positive direction under Carsley.
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