GARETH SOUTHGATE cannot wait to be back in the Riverside’s home dug-out, and is hoping the excitement of an England Under-21 game at Middlesbrough is rapidly accompanied by the euphoria of the club’s return to the top-flight.

Having signed a one-year contract extension yesterday that guarantees his continued management of England Under-21s until 2017, Southgate’s next assignment will see him lead England in a friendly with Germany that forms a key part of the build-up to this summer’s European Under-21 Championships in the Czech Republic.

The game on Monday, March 30 will see Southgate return to the Riverside in a managerial capacity for the first time since his dismissal as Middlesbrough manager in October 2009.

The former Boro skipper, who led the Teessiders to Carling Cup victory in 2004 and skippered them in a UEFA Cup final two years later, is looking forward to bringing some of England’s leading young players to the ground he was proud to call home, and is hoping the game proves the pre-cursor to an even bigger celebration come May.

“It’s special because I was with the club for such a long time,” said Southgate, who took part in a coaching session organised by the MFC Foundation at St Augustine’s Primary School in Coulby Newham yesterday. “It’s nice to be taking a game to the Riverside, and it’s a great chance to see some exciting players for the future.

“It’s nice to be coming back with an England side at a time when the club is doing really well. It’s nice to see that the fans seem engaged with the club again, and that’s important. Some of the recent crowds have been really good, and some of the away followings have been huge.

“Aitor (Karanka) is doing a really good job, and clearly Steve (Gibson) is having a go with some of the players that have been signed and some of the loan players that they’ve been able to bring in. It would be great if they could get over the line this year and get back to where we’d all like them to be.”

March’s game will see the likes of Tom Ince, Harry Kane and Danny Ings continue their preparations for this summer’s tournament, and should also see Middlesbrough duo Ben Gibson and Patrick Bamford attempt to enhance their own claims for a place in Southgate’s final squad.

The Under-21 boss is still to hold a detailed discussion with Roy Hodgson to ascertain whether the likes of Calum Chambers, Jack Wilshere, Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be released to play in the Czech Republic rather than called into England’s senior squad for June’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Slovenia, but it is clear that the friendly with Germany is a major part of his plans.

“It’s a key game for us,” he said. “We had a really good qualifying campaign, but the reality is that we need to test ourselves against better teams.

“We did that in November against Portugal and France, who would be two of the best teams in Europe in this age group, and we’ll be doing it again against Germany and Czech Republic, who we play in March. We’re in the last eight in Europe now, and Germany are in that too. As always, they’re very strong, but that’s the sort of test we need before we go into the summer.”

* Tickets for the England Under-21 international against Germany at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on Monday March 30 (7.45pm) are priced at £10 for adults and £1 for children/concessions, and are available by calling 0844 499 1234 or via online at mfc.co.uk/tickets.

* Read Gareth Southgate discussing his managerial experiences at Middlesbrough and hopes for the development of the England team in the Saturday Spotlight feature of tomorrow’s Northern Echo.