ANDRE GOMES’ injury has made Everton team-mate Jordan Pickford more determined to take his Euro 2020 chance.
Thankfully, the Portuguese midfielder is expected to make a full recovery from the broken leg he suffered against Tottenham earlier this month.
The horror injury suffered by Andre Gomes has had a big impact on Jordan PickfordCredit: Rex Features
But Pickford says career-threatening moments that Gomes and other Everton team-mates have been through are a reminder to make the most of opportunities like a major championship essentially on home soil.
The Three Lions goalkeeper said: “You never know what it’s going to bring, tomorrow.
“Every day is a new day and you have to take opportunities — you can’t take anything for granted. Touch wood I’m injury free but the likes of Andre, James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman haven’t had the best of luck.
“You’ve just got to do your best each game and hopefully, going into the summer, that means getting some silverware.”
Euro 2020 was far from Pickford’s thoughts, of course, in the moments after Son Heung-Min’s foul led to Gomes lying stricken on the Goodison Park turf.
Pickford said: “For me it was about helping others really because I didn’t see the extent of the injury and we still had a game to play.
“Andre was still in our thoughts because it was a horrendous injury but we were getting beat 1-0 at the time so I was just trying to get the lads reset and focused back on the game.
Jordan Pickford knows how lucky he is to be fit and healthy having seen Andre Gomes injuredCredit: EPA
“I’d like to say I’m a bit of a leader in helping and trying to help Sonny for Spurs as well, because I didn’t think that he meant to do it. I was just asking if he was all right.
“Bravery is massive in football and it’s never nice to see. James McCarthy’s injury against West Brom was right in front of me and was horrific.
“But for me it’s about us being there for them when the times are hard because they’re going to have days where they’re down and days when they’re up with injuries.
“That’s what a good team spirit does and you get the arm round the shoulders and get them though bad days.”
Team spirit is a live issue in the England camp after the rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool spilled over into a bust-up between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez.
The unity of Southgate’s squad was a key factor in the amazing run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia.
Can it survive incidents like Monday’s canteen kerfuffle?
Pickford said: “Definitely. That all got dealt with.
Pickford is aiming to help England to Euro 2020 glory next summerCredit: � Richard Calver – www.matchdayimages.com
“In life, it’s normal. You’re going to have your ups and your downs, whether it’s at home with your family or your club or with England.
“It’s about how you come out the other side of it.
“We move on as a group. There’s a great team spirit. As a squad everyone gets on with everyone and it’s brilliant.
“The team spirit is what drives us to be successful and I think that will always be the case.”
Among Southgate’s greatest successes is the way he seems to have made playing for England a pleasure again, rather than a chore.
Pickford, who has come all the way through the youth ranks to become the Three Lions’ No 1, said: “Ever since I came in as a young kid, I’ve loved coming away with England.
“That does drive you, when you’re coming away, to enjoy being away with England.
“Everyone gets on, everyone always has a good laugh.
“When we need to be serious, we are serious. When we’re on the training pitch, we are on our A game. Off the pitch, it’s about enjoying it.
“I think I can speak for the rest of the lads and say we all enjoy coming away.”
But next summer will be all about performing on home soil. Pickford and his team-mates loved watching footage from back home of England fans going crazy during the World Cup.
They will have the opportunity to see that for themselves during next summer’s Euros.
Pickford said: “The World Cup was my first major tournament and not getting to the final in the end was a huge disappointment.
“But we made huge strides as a team and those disappointments in Russia can hopefully spur us on going into the Euros.
“In Russia it was quality when we saw how excited the fans were back home.
“The first three games are at Wembley so you can’t ask for much more than that.
“We know how good the country is and we just want to keep repaying them.
“If we are playing good football and winning games we know the fans are going to be right behind us.”
Mauricio Pochettino publicly thanks Everton players for helping to console Son Heung-Min after horror tackle leaves André Gomes with a broken leg and the South Korean in tears
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
