The Middlesbrough boss, now in the third season as boss at the Riverside Stadium, backed Adams to put his leadership skills to good use after he was appointed as Harry Redknapp's replacement at Portsmouth.

Southgate said: "It's a great opportunity for Tony and something he has obviously wanted to do, so welcome to the madhouse.

"Tony was an excellent leader as a player and will have enjoyed working with Harry and the experience that will have given him.

"He has taken over at a good club. It's a difficult job, but one I am sure he is looking foreward to."

Asked if he thinks the former Wycombe boss can succeed at Fratton Park, Southgate added: "Only time will tell.

"He will need time to introduce his own ideas. He has some very experienced players at Portsmouth, which is a big help as a manager, and there is that balance between changing things to what you want to do and your beliefs, and continuing to get resuults with the team you have.

"It will be fascinating to watch him, as it has been with the other managers who have come in since I have been here."

Adams is the latest Englishman to step into the Premier League ranks with Southgate, Paul Ince, Steve Bruce, Phil Brown, Roy Hodgson, Redknapp and Tony Mowbray all in employment around the country.

However, Southgate insists the decision as to whether or not to recruit from home is very much one for individual clubs.

He said: "Every club has their own decision to make as to which route they want to go, and I don't think at club level you can complain either way on that decision.

"A club has got to appoint the person they feel is best in the situation they are in.

"What is pleasing is there are lots of talented English people out there who need opportunities, and the answer isn't always to look abroad.

"But having said that, the foreign managers who are now in the Premier League are among the best in the world, so we have to take on board that they are bringing a lot to the game, and that is helpful to our league and also to our players."