Roberto Martinez has backed Gareth Southgate’s youthful England side to perform strongly at the World Cup in Russia.

Southgate has selected the third-youngest squad for the 2018 tournament, including uncapped teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold.

England’s 23-man travelling party are lacking in World Cup experience with just 11 finals appearances among them, but Belgium manager Martinez expects their Group G rivals to impress on the global stage.

‘I always followed England very closely,’ the former Everton boss told Omnisport.

‘They are a group of players that now, with the good work of Gareth Southgate, have brought a group of young players he knew very well from his involvement with the U21s.

‘And then he’s kept a really good mixture and has given the English team a real clear direction of players playing in a certain way that has allowed them to compete against the best in the world.

‘They are in a really good moment to go into a tournament and carry on the winning feeling that St George’s Park has brought to the national teams.

‘We’ve seen the success with the U17s, the U20s. I think it’s something that we’re going to see going through the senior level.’

Belgium face England in their final group game on 28 June in Kaliningrad.