Gareth Southgate takes charge of his first match as England U21s boss on Thursday when Moldova U21s travel to Reading for the 2015 European Under-21 qualifier.

The former England defender, who won 57 caps for his country, replaced Stuart Pearce at the helm this summer, signing a three-year contract with the Under-21s.

Southgate will be tasked with improving England's showing in the European Championships this summer, which saw the country finish bottom of their section without a single point.

England are the only team in Group 1 yet to play a qualification match for the 2015 European Championships, with Lithuania sitting top of the section with seven points.

Moldova currently sit in fourth position having won one of their two matches, while Finland, Wales and San Marino make up the rest of the section.

Southgate will be without the services of Jonjo Shelvey and Connor Wickham through injury, but Zeki Fryers and James Ward-Prowse could both come into the side.

Wilfried Zaha is also in line to start, along with Manchester United teammate Nick Powell, who completed a season-long loan to Wigan Athletic in the latter stages of the transfer window.

Moldova, meanwhile, could hand a first start to Veaceslav Lisa in midfield, but Sergiu Patic and Vitalie Zlatan are both expected to start on the bench.

Recent form

England: WWLLL

Moldova: LWDLW

Possible lineups

England: Butland; Dier, Keane, Stones, Shaw; Hughes, Powell, Lingard, Redmond; Zaha, Kane

Moldova: Railean; Prodan, Jardan, Bogdan, Modirca; Rata, Matei, Anton, Carp; Focsa, Milinceanu

Sports Mole says: 3-0

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