PAUL Ince believes Tony Adams’ Portsmouth appointment is a crucial move for English football as he looks to wrestle back control from the recent foreign influx.

The Rovers boss goes head-to-head managerially with his former England team mate for the first time at Fratton Park on Sunday, insisting bosses of their ilk have to be the future for the nation’s game.

A lack of domestic options saw the FA turn to Italian Fabio Capello for the latest England managerial appointment but, with the latest breed of English talent cutting their teeth in the Premier League, Ince hopes the need to import will prove a temporary measure.

He said: “You have myself, Gareth Southgate and Tony Adams. It is nice to see a young English manager getting the chance. I think it is important for the future of English football.

“The next time, whether it eight years down the line, the likes of myself, Tony Adams or Gareth Southgate might have a chance of the England job, because we would have had some real experience.

“The more Premier League experience we can get then we don’t have to start looking overseas to bring other managers in.”

Having gone eight Premier League games without a win, Ince is facing increasing pressure as Rovers sit nervously in the relegation zone.

The Rovers boss remains confident fortunes will change though and insists patience is the key for the likes of him and managerial new boy Adams, as they look to break the recent foreign monopoly.

He said: “It is harder for young managers in the game now. You just have to be patient. When things are not going so well, you have to be patient.

“I have got a fantastic chairman who will back me to the hilt and I am sure it goes without saying, the same as with Steve Gibson at Middlesbrough when things weren’t going so well for Southy.

“So even though things aren’t going your way, you have to be brave. You have to forget all the negative stuff you get aimed at you and just come through it and we will be better players for it, better people for it and a better club.”

During his battles with Arsenal legend Adams on the field, and his experience with the centre back for England, Ince has no doubt Sunday’s clash will prove a stern test.

“I had some great times with Rodders,” said Ince. “He is a fantastic player and was an awesome captain. He has always been a leader of men. It is a very good job for him.

“He has had a couple of years under Harry, so I am sure he knows what to expect, and like myself it will be a learning curve for him. He will make mistakes and will learn from that. It will be nice to meet up with him.

“I expect the same from his team as you would get from mine and Keaneys. A bit of grit, a bit of fight and defensively they should be sound.”