Gareth Southgate set to recall Joe Gomez to England squad with forgotten star who last played 5 years ago included too

JOE GOMEZ and Jack Butland are preparing for England recalls after years in the international wilderness.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate is beset by injury problems ahead of naming his squad tomorrow for friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.

And he is ready to reward what Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp calls Gomez’s “most consistent” season ever.

The versatile defender, 26, has suffered numerous fitness problems since winning the last of his 11 caps four years ago.

Meanwhile, Rangers’ 31-year-old keeper Butland has been away from England duty even longer, having earned nine caps from 2012-2018.

Southgate has faced a selection headache for a prestige double-header at Wembley against Brazil on March 23 and Belgium three days later.

His four first-choice full-backs are crocked – Reece James,  Kieran Trippier, Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell.

That makes Gomez’s eye-catching return to form and regular starts with Liverpool even more timely.

Even better, he’s covered four positions in his 39 games for Klopp’s title-chasers this season.

Apart from central defence and each full-back role, Gomez has also looked comfortable in midfield.

And Klopp “couldn’t be happier” for a player who was tipped for greatness after arriving at Anfield from Charlton in 2015.

But injuries to his cruciate ligament injury and ankle have marred his progress since then.

And it’s only this campaign that Gomez has been back to his best.

Klopp said: “He was, in our most successful years, super, super important, played an incredible amount of games in 19/20, probably 18/19 as well.

“He had some injuries, stuff happened, and he was in and out of the team, always important to us, but I think this season is the most consistent he played, especially because of the different positions.”

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Philippe Clement has refused to “make the mistake” of urging Southgate to recall Butland.

But the stopper, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Manchester United from Crystal Palace,  has shone in his first campaign north of the border.

Clement has said: “I’m really happy with the way Jack is performing, but also with who he is as a professional, how he acts in the dressing room.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk