PICTURES: Jake Livermore and England squad swap kit for khaki with Royal Marines
West Brom star Jake Livermore swapped his football kit for camouflage during an unusual England training camp last weekend.
New pictures have been released showing the Baggies midfielder on a top-secret trip to the Royal Marines’ Commando Training Centre.
The Three Lions’ preparations for this month’s games against Scotland and France are due to officially begin on Tuesday.
However, when the majority of the group reported at St. George’s Park earlier than usual on Friday morning, it soon became clear they were in for no usual training weekend.
Boss Gareth Southgate gathered his players and support staff in one of the national football centre’s dressing rooms, where a member of the Royal Marines informed them that they would immediately relocate to Devon for the next 48 hours.
Upon arrival at the training centre, between Exeter and Exmouth, the group immediately changed into their ‘rig’ – or, for the uninitiated, military training uniforms.
The following days saw them experience an array of activities that Royal Marines recruits undertake, including a night camping on Woodbury Common.
“We wanted to come and put the guys into a different environment, something they weren't expecting,” Southgate explained.
“The Marines talk about a dislocated expectation, and that was part of the theme of the camp – how will we be adaptable in moments of difficulty for us as a team?"
The group will reunite at St. George’s Park on Tuesday, when Gary Cahill, Eric Dier, Chris Smalling, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford are due to join their team-mates, having been unavailable for the trip.
