Colchester United defender Ryan Dickson has claimed that he always believed that Adam Lallana would play for England.

The Southampton midfielder will make his second appearance for the Three Lions in tonight's friendly against Germany at Wembley.

Dickson, who played with Lallana for three seasons at Southampton, has said that he never doubted the 25-year-old's potential.

"I said pretty much as soon as I went to Southampton that Adam Lallana was going to play for England," Dickson told the Colchester Gazette.

"It was always going to happen and it was just a matter of time, because he's a class, class player. I came up against him a lot in training when I was there.

"It's something he definitely deserves and he has all of the ability in the world. He's both footed, he just drifts with the football and is so comfortable in possession."

Lallana made his England debut in the defeat to Chile on Friday evening.