A former Carlisle United player is set to take charge of a young England side for the first time.

Paul Nevin has been put in interim charge of the men's Elite League squad.

He will be at the helm when the Under-20s take on Turkey and Romania.

Nevin, who played for the Blues in the 1991/92 season, leads the side to Istanbul on Friday, before overseeing a home clash with Romania at Stockport County's Edgeley Park next Tuesday.

It continues a further rise in the international set-up for 55-year-old former striker Nevin, the respected coach who was part of Gareth Southgate's Three Lions backroom team at the 2022 World Cup and this year's European Championship.

Lewisham-born Nevin was promoted to the top Elite League squad position after previous boss Ben Futcher stepped up to take charge of the Under-21s, following Lee Carsley's move from the latter to the senior position on a temporary basis.

The Elite League squad - the same age group that Paul Simpson led to World Cup glory in 2017 - includes players such as Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham and Sheffield United's Oliver Arblaster.

Paul Nevin is third from left with fellow Carlisle United players Paul Proudlock, Richard Sendall, Tony Fyfe and Simon Jeffels at Brunton Park in 1992Paul Nevin is third from left with fellow Carlisle United players Paul Proudlock, Richard Sendall, Tony Fyfe and Simon Jeffels at Brunton Park in 1992 (Image: Stuart Roy Clarke)

Nevin had a spell with the Blues in the 1991/2 season when they finished bottom of the Football League.

After joining Carlisle following a spell in the USA, former Shrewsbury Town man Nevin made eight appearances for Aidan McCaffery’s Cumbrians.

He then moved on to Yeovil Town before going on to have coaching spells with Fulham and in New Zealand and Qatar, and then followed a stint at Norwich City with roles at the Football Association and, from 2020, West Ham United.

With the Elite League squad, he is assisted by coaches Kevin Nolan, Chris Lock and Neil Cutler.