Roy Hodgson is looking forward to working with Gareth Southgate after the former Middlesbrough boss was named as the England Under-21 manager.

Southgate succeeds Stuart Pearce, whose contract was not renewed by the Football Association following a disappointing European Championships campaign in June.

In Pearce’s absence, senior boss Hodgson took charge of the Young Lions for a 6-1 win over Scotland earlier this month and he is hopeful that Southgate can also get the best out of the squad.

“I know Gareth well and he has the right philosophy and ap-proach to football, and I’m very much looking forward to working with him,” he said.

“Having taken the Under-21s earlier this month I’m aware of the talent that exists within the group, so it is a great opportunity looking ahead to the tournament in two years’ time.”

Southgate’s first task will be preparing a squad for the 2015 European Under-21 Champion-ship in the Czech Republic, with the first qualifier against Moldova taking place in Reading on September 5 before a trip to Finland four days later.

The 42-year-old will report to the FA’s director of elite development, Dan Ashworth.

“I look forward to working with Gareth,” said Ashworth.

“He came through a comprehensive and thorough interview process, showing a real understanding of our need to ensure a consistency in the style of play across the England development teams at every level.

“Gareth shares our belief that now is an important moment for English football, it is the time for change and his ideas and experience will be crucial to the direction we wish to take the development teams in future.”

Southgate was himself the FA’s head of elite development bet-ween February 2011 and July 2012.