Lee Carsley admits he doesn't know what to expect from Ireland

Interim England boss Lee Carsley has claimed he is unsure of what Ireland will be like under new boss Heimir Hallgrímsson ahead of their meeting in the Nations League.

The two sides will lock horns on September 7, and both will have new management on the touchline. Carsley, who had been linked to Ireland, replaced Gareth Southgate on a temporary basis, while Hallgrímsson replaced Stephen Kenny after a long and drawn-out process.

England vs. Ireland in any sport is always an interesting watch, and the Nations League fixture promises to be similar.

Carsley, speaking to the England media team, admitted he wanted to help serial underachievers England reach the next step and help them win tournaments.

"I think we’ve got some outstanding players on the senior team and on the pathway. I think the level of play over the last few years has really improved,” the former Irish international told England’s YouTube channel.

"You can see that by the way we’ve done in major tournaments. Obviously, the next step is winning, and that’s got to be the objective."

Carsley, who played for Ireland during his career, admitted that he was looking forward to facing Ireland next month but also added that Ireland's playing style under their new manager was something he was unsure of.

"They’ve both got a unique way of playing (in Ireland and Finland). Ireland, we’re more unsure of what to expect in terms of the change of manager and what he changes. I know John O’Shea did a good job with them from a temporary point of view, making them a bit more resilient. It will always be a difficult game in Dublin."

"There are two teams that we’re looking forward to playing against, and we're really encouraged to see how we fare against them."

Ireland will begin their campaign on September 7 against England in a League B, Group B2 match. Following this, on September 10, they will take on Greece. The team will then travel to Finland for their next fixture on October 10. Just three days later, on October 13, Ireland will face Greece again, this time away. Their penultimate match will be on November 14, when they host Finland. Finally, Ireland will conclude their group stage on November 17 with a match against England.

See More: England, Football, Ireland, Lee Carsley

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