Gareth Southgate told to give England debut to player who 'doesn't get enough love'

Gareth Southgate has been told to "have a look" at former Manchester United midfielder Angel Gomes as he considers his England squad for this summer's European Championship.

The next international break between March 18 and 26 will give Three Lions boss Southgate another chance to assess his squad ahead of the tournament in Germany.

He is expected to name a 25-man group for friendly games against Brazil and Belgium at Wembley.

Southgate, of course, is yet to announce his 23-man squad for this summer's European Championship but talk is already rife amongst fans as to who he should select.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is one of the most talked about prospects in world football right now, so naturally his name has cropped up in conversation.

In fact, during Sunday's clash between United and Luton, former England striker Ian Wright made his feelings clear on the teenager, who has been a standout performer in recent weeks.

"Kobbie Mainoo has to be in the next England squad," he said on X, formerly Twitter. "Such maturity in chaotic conditions that we've not seen from a England player in a long time. Impressed every time I watch him."

As well as Mainoo, Wright would mention Lille playmaker Angel Gomes as someone that Southgate should be looking at ahead of next month's friendly games against Brazil and Belgium.

In a separate post, he wrote: "Not seeing enough love and flowers for Angel Gomes and what he's consistently doing at Lille in the centre of midfield. Another top performance yesterday. Call him up and have a look at him."

Gomes, who left Manchester United in the summer of 2020 to seek first-team opportunities, has flourished in a No. 10 role for Ligue 1 side Lille this season, notching six assists in all competitions.

This pass from Angel Gomes to set up Jonathan David 🤤@IanWright0 isn't wrong!pic.twitter.com/kABVghB8w5

— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) February 19, 2024

Ahead of Saturday's clash against Le Havre – a game that featured another Gomes assist – the 23-year-old opened up on his role under Lille boss Paulo Fonseca.

"When I play in different positions, it's because the coach specifically wants a certain thing from the game or wants a certain thing for me to do from the game," he told TNT Sports.

"So sometimes on paper I could be seen as the No. 10 but I'm not playing necessarily like a No. 10 or I'm not getting in positions that a No. 10 gets in.

“So it's all very different and there could be games where he might think I'm needed to play deeper to help the team out with different things. Therefore, I don't really have a preference to where I play necessarily in the midfield."

Gomes added: "Last season, I played deeper, I played as a six, I played as an eight, played as a 10, on the left and on the right.

"He's very tactical in the way he sees the game. So it's easy for me to transmit whatever he wants, and also my own game onto the pitch."