GOMEZ AGONY
Southgate supports star after freak injury addstoflakfromfans
GARETH SOUTHGATE insists that Joe Gomez will emerge stronger after the most turbulent week of his career ended with a freak injury.
The Liverpool defender, who has been in the headlines since Monday’s clash with Raheem Sterling, damaged his knee in a training collision with Kieran Trippier on Friday — the day after he was booed at Wembley — and was taken for a scan.
‘It’s ridiculous, him having to go home in the way he is,’ said Southgate. ‘It’s been a tough week, but one that will make him stronger and one that he’s dealt with well.’
Gomez has some swelling around his knee and while it is understood the injury is not too serious, it was sufficient enough for Southgate to take the decision to leave him at home rather than subject him to a flight out to Kosovo for tonight’s Euro 2020 qualifier.
It was, the England manager conceded, a scarcely believable footnote to what has been a challenging period for the 22-year-old. He had nothing to do with causing the rumpus with Sterling yet he was subjected to treatment from the Wembley crowd that left the head coach and team-mates aghast.
Southgate would not confirm whether Gomez would have played here had he been fit but it was clear he was disappointed for a player he has long held in high regard.
‘You couldn’t make it up if you tried,’ said Southgate. ‘He’s absolutely fine. He took a clash of knees yesterday. We scanned it just to be certain and I think he’ll be fine in a couple of days but he wasn’t able to train.
‘We have to put a 23-man squad in at midnight tonight, so it was a simple decision.
‘I wanted to get him into the game (against Montenegro) because he hadn’t played in September or October, even though he’d been involved in both camps, so there was nothing other than for getting him on the pitch in those games.
‘I think now is a good moment for him just to go home for a couple of days, clear his head. The pleasing thing for me is that we’ve got him back on the pitch. I think the fact Raheem put out the tweet that he did the other night was real closure on that whole incident.’
Closure is perhaps not the right term. It would be wrong to understate the frustration and anger Gomez, who was left with a deep scratch under his right eye after Sterling leapt at him, felt when the Wembley crowd singled him out.
When asked what the squad had done to lift Gomez, Southgate replied: ‘I spoke to him after the game, his team-mates spoke after the game and he’d picked that feeling up then.
‘He was in a much better place very quickly. We actually ended up having a chuckle this morning.’
Liverpool will assess Gomez when he reports back to Melwood, along with Jordan Henderson, who was also spared the trip to Kosovo as he was still feeling the effects of a virus.
Definitely on the plane is Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, who is set to be handed his England debut by Southgate in Pristina tonight.
The England boss will ring the changes for their final Euro 2020 qualifier, against Kosovo, with Pope poised to get the nod ahead of Jordan Pickford.
The 27-year-old has one England cap as a substitute against Costa Rica in 2018. Southgate had planned to play Pope against Bulgaria last month had England defeated the Czech Republic three days prior to book qualification for next summer’s tournament.
It’s believed Southgate wants his back-up goalkeeper to head into the European Championships with more international experience.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to play in attack, with Jadon Sancho likely to start on the bench.
Sterling will return and Harry Kane is expected to lead the line again after being substituted early in the second half against Montenegro.
In midfield, Harry Winks will keep his place, with Declan Rice and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both pushing for starts.
Southgate had planned to rest Harry Maguire due to concerns over his workload at club level. But Henderson’s withdrawal through injury could see Southgate stick with the same back four that started against Montenegro.
John Stones is facing a fitness test this morning, however, with Tyrone Mings hoping to get the nod if the Manchester City centre-back is not able to start.
Despite their spot at Euro 2020 secured, Southgate insists England won’t be easing off in Kosovo.
‘Now we have qualified, we still have desire to win the game because seedings for the finals could be important,’ he said.
‘What has pleased me most looking back is we’ve qualified comfortably and played some great football.’