Former Derby County head coach Paul Clement will travel with the England Under-21 team to Switzerland for their European Championship qualifier.
Clement will join Under-21s boss Gareth Southgate's coaching team in an unofficial role at this stage, having been sacked by the Rams on the 8 February.
Southgate explained how Clement came to be involved with the Three Lions' preparations this week as they look to extend their lead at the top of standings in Thun on Saturday.
“I had some conversations with Paul when he was at Derby because their Under-21s play here quite a lot so he was passing through the centre (St George's Park),” Southgate told The FA's website.
“I actually went down to Chelsea to see Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] and Guus [Hiddink] and catch up with Steve [Holland], and Paul was visiting at the same time. So we've stood and watched training together, and as I was driving away I thought it would have been silly not to take up the opportunity.”
With Clement not the only manager recently receiving his P45, Southgate also revealed it is not uncommon to see familiar faces at St George's Park.
“When managers are out of work we try to offer them a hand and support. Chris Powell was watching training today as well.
A winless run of seven matches cut short Clement's time at the iPro Stadium despite the Rams lying in the play-off places in the Championship. At the time Derby were five points off automatic promotion and, while they remain 5th, now lay seven points adrift of Brighton under Darren Wassall.
