Hat-trick hero Redmond pays tribute to team display

Tuesday 20 May 2014
Redmond celebrates his second goal with James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings
Nathan Redmond might have hit the headlines with his goals against Wales on Monday night, but the England Under-21s winger praised the collective effort as Gareth Southgate's side ran out 3-1 winners in Swansea.

The Norwich City winger scored a hat-trick against the Red Dragons at the Liberty Stadium to put England nine points clear at the top of their qualifying group.

And after netting the winner against Wales in the reverse fixture at Derby in March, Redmond has quickly become one of the key men in the Under-21 setup. 

Nathan Redmond celebrates his second goal with James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings.

Redmond is congratulated on his second goal by James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings

 

"It’s good to score against them twice this season, but it was a really strong team performance from the lads today, we kept the ball well," said a modest Redmond after the game.

"We had to use it [the ball] well and effectively and we could have scored a lot more tonight, but we’ll take the 3-1 and go onto the next game.

"We were a bit shaky at times when they caught us on the counter attack but overall it was a good team performance.

"I just tried to impose myself as much as possible, the coaching staff wanted me to start quite brightly, which I didn’t do in the first game at Derby.

"So I just wanted to let the full-back know he was going to be in for a tough time."

Redmond, 19, joined up with the England squad last week on the back of a disappointing few months at club level, with Norwich suffering relegation from the Premier League.

And he admits he jumped at the chance of linking up with the Under-21s for this game and the Toulon Tournament.

"It’s been a difficult end to the season," he admitted to TheFA.com. 

"But as soon as I knew I got the call to come on England duty, it was a chance to end the season on a high.

"Hopefully, I can come here and play with a little bit of freedom and Steve [Holland] and the gaffer allow me to go and do that."

Watch the full interview with Nathan in the media player above.

By Nicholas Veevers Content Manager - FA Owned Channels in Swansea