Friday 10 October 2014 13:10, UK
Adam Lallana has praised Calum Chambers for his performance on his full England debut against San Marino.
Arsenal defender Chambers, 19, continued his fairytale start to the season following his £16million summer move from Southampton to the Emirates with his first start for his country at Wembley on Thursday.
Lallana knows Chambers better than most, having played alongside him at Southampton last season, and his rapid progress has not surprised his former captain.
"Calum was magnificent," said Lallana after England’s 5-0 victory in the European Qualifier. "It was not an easy game for him.
Calum was magnificent... He showed great composure and is going to go on to have many, many more caps.
"He was always going to have lots of the ball and take risks with his passes because that's what happens against teams that camp behind the ball.
"He showed great composure and is going to go on to have many, many more caps."
Lallana, who also left Southampton in the summer as he completed his move to Liverpool, added: "I knew it was a matter of time before he possibly moved on or went to a big, big club.
"It hasn't surprised me at all how quickly and how well he's started. I was watching the Champions League qualification games and he took to them like a duck to water.
"He was brilliant, showed great composure and he can play centre-half as well. He is a very talented boy and it's a great thing for England."
Chambers, himself, was understandably delighted after the game.
"It is amazing," he said. "I got named in the England Under-21s and they have got two tough games coming up, which would have been a good experience.
"But then I got called up to the first team, which is an amazing feeling and especially to get my start. It has been a fantastic couple of days.
"It has been a mad start of the season for me, but I've got to keep going, keep concentrating and just try keep improving on my game the best I can."
