HE has become the England Under-21s’ new Guardian Angel, shielding the back four.But Angel Gomes is adamant he is loving his new No6 role – even if old team-mate Marcus Rashford told him it was boring!
Gomes (top right) during his Man Utd days with team-mates Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jesse Lingard and Marcus RashfordCredit: Instagram @axeltuanzebe_38
Some fans were surprised when Lee Carsley deployed diminutive Gomes, who started out as No10, in front of the defence for the Young Lions’ Euros opener on Thursday.
But the 22-year-old more than 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.
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While he revealed England star Rashford, with whom he played at Old Trafford, even had his own stint in the role.
Affable 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.
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“It’s funny because I was speaking to Rashford at St George’s Park (two weeks ago) and when we were younger, believe it or not he was a No6 when he was growing up.
“You wouldn’t expect that! It was around the Under-15s or 16s. He did it for a couple of games and then moved back up to his natural position.
“We were speaking about that, and he was saying, ‘Do you not find it boring though? You can’t attack’.
“I said, ‘No, I don’t, but if I had your pace and attributes then I would find it boring.’
“It’s a part of the game I’ve enjoyed getting used to.”
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.
Gomes has impressed under Paulo Fonseca at Ligue Un side LilleCredit: Getty
He has already racked up 69 appearances for the Ligue 1 club, situated very close to the Belgian border.
But 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’ achievements have gone under the radar.
He has forged a strong connection with Lille boss Paulo Fonseca – once a candidate for the Tottenham job – speaking English and Portuguese with the 50-year-old.
Gomes, whose dad is a former Portugal Under-21 international and who is the godson of ex-United winger Nani, 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.
Scholes’ tip won’t lead to a Ram raidJACOB RAMSEY insisted he is happy at Aston Villa after legendary midfielder Paul Scholes had questioned why more top sides were not after the England Under-21 starlet.
Manchester United hero Scholes wrote on Instagram that he was “surprised no big clubs are coming in for this lad” after Ramsey’s man-of-the-match display in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Czech Republic.
Birmingham-born Ramsey came through the academy system at Villa and shone this term under Unai Emery, scoring six goals and grabbing seven assists in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old said: “Paul Scholes was a top midfielder, probably one of the best British midfielders to play the game. I’m really happy at Villa, I’ve got four years left on my contract.
“I’m here to try to win a tournament for England so I’m not really thinking about my club situation.
“I’ve been at Villa since I was six, seven. I’m from the area. I’m really happy.”
Ramsey has a chance to impress Gareth Southgate on Sunday when the seniors boss attends the Young Lions’ second group game of the Under-21 Euros against Israel in Kutaisi.
Southgate has namechecked the Villa ace before but Ramsey said his presence will not put his Under-21s team-mates under any pressure as they are well used to it.
The midfielder added: “One of the good things about this national team is you can see there is a pathway from the 21s through to the seniors.
“The seniors have a really good squad and there are a couple of players who’ve been with the 21s and pushed up.
“With Gareth coming over, we can be excited but we’re used to it at club level. He’s been known to watch the games at club level. So there’s no added pressure, the lads can go out and enjoy themselves.”
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.
But Carsley said: “He strikes the ball well but I can’t remember seeing him on the list!”
ENDS
Likely line-up: Trafford; Garner, Harwood-Bellis, Colwill, Johnson; Gomes, Jones; Madueke, Gibbs-White, Ramsey; Gordon.
“It was a really positive season for me, one I’ve really enjoyed.
“I’ve been a key player for the team out in France and I’ve been able to play and impose myself on the majority of the games. And in a lot of different positions.
“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.”
As well as holding midfield, versatile 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 added: “He spoke to me before the PSG game away in Paris that he went to.
“We got beat 4-3 but we were ahead.
“It was a good one for him to go to! Messi scored a free-kick in the last minute. Typical Messi.
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“I actually played a few different positions in that game. It’s a different environment for him to watch in.”
With the way Gomes has been performing in his new role, more and more eyes back in England will be watching his development with interest. More
