Norwich City interim coach Allan Russell plans to lean on England pals Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland for advice. 

Russell and the club’s head of football development, Steve Weaver, have been placed in charge for Reading’s Championship visit on Friday, and Watford’s trip to Carrow Road next week, following Dean Smith’s dismissal. 

The Canaries’ set piece coach worked with Three Lions’ boss Southgate, and his assistant Holland, for nearly five years in a spell that saw England reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2018. 

“I'll probably speak to both Gareth and Steve today at some point. But it's been, as you can imagine, pretty hectic,” said Scot Russell. “I've not really had that opportunity. I think it would be silly of me not to lean on the people that I know. And I know that have been in pressure situations. Yeah, absolutely.  

“What did I learn from them? Many things, many things. Gareth is a master in managing situations and people. Highly intelligent. Lots of emotional intelligence as well as tactical intelligence. A really good person to learn from when it comes to management.  

“While Steve Holland, in my opinion, is a genius when it comes to being on the grass and coaching players, how he acquits himself and how he manages himself. A quiet man with a real big power and presence, the same as Gareth. I learned a lot from them in nearly five years.” 

Russell is relishing the opportunity to step up alongside Weaver. 

“Neither myself nor Steve are naive to the situation,” he said. “Steve's been around the game a long time working with first team players, working with youth players. Steve and I get along well, there's no hierarchy when it comes to the fact we both have a job to do. And we'll work together to do that.  

“He is a good coach with loads of experience. And as I said, he knows the game, he knows how to be around players. He knows the current situation, and I believe he's been in charge before at this club when it comes to a temporary situation.”