Angel Gomes: The England Under-21s’ New Guardian Angel
Angel Gomes has become England Under-21s’ new guardian angel, shielding the back four in his new No6 role. The 22-year-old started out as a No10, but Lee Carsley deployed him in front of the defence for the Young Lions’ Euros opener against Czech Republic. Gomes justified his selection with an impressive performance in the 2-0 win over Czech Republic. It is not the first time he has played there for Carsley’s side, while he has filled that role for Lille at times this season.
Gomes claims he likes the position even more than his old one behind the strikers, naming a number of legendary players who made the same transition in their own careers. He revealed England star Marcus Rashford, with whom he played at Old Trafford, even had his own stint in the role. Gomes said, “One hundred per cent, I enjoy it more. Deep down I’ve always been a No10 but always appreciated and enjoyed players behind me, the deep-lying midfield: Xavi, Iniesta, Scholes, Pirlo. I’ve always admired them growing up. Because I’ve played higher I know what’s required when playing lower. I can distribute and help the team build which I actually enjoy.”
Gomes was with United from the age of six and became the club’s youngest debutant since the legendary Duncan Edwards in 1953 when he made his first-team bow in May 2017 at 16 and 263 days. But seeking more opportunities, he left his boyhood club on a free transfer for Lille in 2020 and has quietly been carving out an impressive career on the other side of the Channel. He has already racked up 69 appearances for the Ligue 1 club, situated very close to the Belgian border.
Gomes has impressed under Paulo Fonseca at Ligue Un side Lille. He has forged a strong connection with Lille boss Paulo Fonseca, speaking English and Portuguese with the 50-year-old. Gomes said, “(Fonseca) has been so important for me. He’s very hands-on, demanding in a good way and a way I need. He’ll let me know when I’ve done something well and when he wants more. At this stage of my career it’s what I’ve needed. He’s brought consistency into my game.”
Gomes has played left wing, right wing, No10, No8, and in a double pivot this term as he helped Lille get back into Europe. He will hope to keep his place for England’s second-group game against Israel on Sunday in Kutaisi, about three hours east of the Young Lions’ training base near Batumi. Boss Carsley has been in regular contact with Gomes during his tenure, as he is with all his players, and has made trips over to see him in action in France.
Gomes’ achievements have gone under the radar, unlike his former England under-21 team-mate Flo Balogun, who has earned rave reviews after blasting 21 league goals on loan at Reims from Arsenal this term. Gomes said, “Whoever watches knows how well I’ve played in games but a lot of people don’t. A lot of people go off who’s scored or assisted. It’s difficult because all eyes are on the Premier League and rightly so. That’s the pinnacle, the highest level at the moment. As long as you’re doing well then there’s no reason why you can’t get to where you want to. It’s about being happy within yourself.”
Young Lions boss Lee Carsley picked a team with effectively seven midfielders against the Czechs – James Garner played at full-back, Anthony Gordon at centre-forward – and the players were praised back home for how they dovetailed, even out of their natural positions. But Carsley claimed it was possible because of how adaptable the modern player has become – particularly those within this squad.
The 49-year-old, who will be without Max Aarons and Tommy Doyle through illness and a knee injury respectively, said, “The players nowadays are multifunctional. Like Jacob, the first camp we had him as Under-20s he was a centre midfielder and now he’s playing on the left for Aston Villa scoring and assisting. But not only scoring and assisting, he scores and assists like a striker when he’s in that box. He’s got that calmness. But he’s not just done that this season. He’s had four, five, six years of preparing himself for that. I see that we’ve got a lot of players within this squad that can do different roles.”
Carsley vowed not to underestimate Israel, whose goalkeeper Daniel Peretz saved two penalties in his side’s 1-1 draw against Germany on Thursday. The Under-21s chief said his players have been practising spot-kicks and that there are “three or four” ready to step up should England get one. Goalkeeper James Trafford claimed before the tournament he would be up for taking one should he get the opportunity.
In conclusion, Angel Gomes has become England Under-21s’ new guardian angel, shielding the back four in his new No6 role. He has impressed under Paulo Fonseca at Ligue Un side Lille and will hope to keep his place for England’s second-group game against Israel on Sunday in Kutaisi.