Southampton's Smallbone targeting statement win over England

The 24 year old is set to take on his country of birth for the first time in any age group, with the two countries meeting in the UEFA Nations League.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's side hosts the Three Lions, who are now managed by former Ireland midfielder Lee Carsely, in Dublin on Saturday, September 7.

Smallbone could win his 10th cap but insists his focus is purely on getting an important result to start a new competition.

He said: "I just want to win the game. I’ve been in the Irish set-up for quite some time and my full focus growing up has been always to play for Ireland.

Republic of Ireland assistant coach John O'Shea and midfielder Will Smallbone (Image: PA)

“I look at it as a good game against a team that got to the European final recently. But I want to put down a marker personally - and for us as a nation – by getting a big result.

“Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Adam Lallana both worked with Carsley very closely for England’s under-21s," Smallbone added. 

“I spoke to both of them over the last few weeks and they’ve only had good things to say about him. Taylor was his captain when they won the European Championships.

"He’s obviously got a biased view of him. He said he’s improved his game a lot but their manager could have different ways of playing than he did with Taylor.”

Icelandic manager Hallgrimsson was confirmed as the new boss of the Irish team in July and will take charge of his first match against England.

The 57 year old, whose Iceland side dumped Roy Hodgson and England out of EURO 2016, is looking for a combative midfielder. 

Smallbone insisted: “Just because I’ve played in passing teams before doesn't mean I’ll play in them forever.

“Whatever way the manager wants me to play, I’ll be happy to play. We weren’t necessarily a massive passing team at Stoke and I played some of my best football there.”