LUCKY for Angel Gomes that he did not find playing holding midfield as “boring” as Marcus Rashford - or the Lille star may never have had his shot with England.
Gomes, 24, is the eye-catching name in the new-look Three Lions squad named by interim boss Lee Carsley for the upcoming clashes with the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Most fans will vaguely remember the Londoner as the pint-sized No10 who became Manchester United’s youngest debutant since Duncan Edwards in 2017 - before leaving on a free three years later.
That is unless they take a keen interest in Ligue 1 or the England Under-21s, of course.
For that is where respective managers Paulo Fonseca and Carsley have repurposed Gomes into a deep-lying playmaker who controls the ball in front of the back four.
He was a revelation in that role alongside Liverpool’s Curtis Jones as Carsley’s England won the Under-21 Euros without conceding a single goal last summer.
Speaking ahead of that tournament, Gomes revealed he revels in playing No6 even more than his old position behind the strikers - and deems it far less dull than ex-United team-mate Rashford did.
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, [Andres] Iniesta, [Paul] Scholes, [Andrea] 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.
“It’s funny because I was speaking to Rashford at St George’s Park [in June 2023] 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!’”
Cristiano Ronaldo once advised a young Gomes to “try to score” during a training session.
But the godson of CR7's former United team-mate Nani has always preferred assisting over putting the ball in the back of the net.
Gomes, who joined United at the age of six and is eligible to play for Portugal through his former footballer father, likes the “calculation” of finding the right angle for a precise pass.
Carsley pointed out the importance of having players who are used to winning things at international level when naming his squad last week.
Expectation weighed down on him after making his United bow aged just 16 years and 263 days, claiming that his wonderkid tag at the time was “obviously not something I wanted”.
He only made 10 United appearances before making the surprise decision to leave, explaining that he “had to follow my heart… I felt that, if I had stayed, there wouldn’t have been a lot of opportunities for me”.
There is a sense of irony to those words now given United’s struggles in holding midfield - but then again, no one saw him in that role when he departed Old Trafford.
It was at Lille, where he pitched up after leaving his boyhood club, that he eventually converted to that position - having been tried in pretty much every other midfield role.
“Demanding” and “very detailed” Fonseca played a key role in the youngster learning his new position, speaking in Portuguese and English to Gomes who he viewed as "the most intelligent player in my team".
The 51-year-old left Lille for AC Milan this summer where English trio Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham will hope for similar developmental guidance.
Gomes, who celebrated his birthday on Saturday, has become a regular starter for his club.
He suffered a scare when clashing heads with defender Amadou Kone against Reims last month, prompting a trip to the hospital, but thankfully he was OK.
Gomes’ biggest headache has been catching the attention of viewers back home.
He explained: “It’s difficult. 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.
“When I play deeper, chipping in [with goals and assists] isn’t the be all and end all. If we win and I play well then that’s great for me.
“It’s difficult because all eyes are on the Premier League and rightly so. That’s the pinnacle, the highest level at the moment.”
Luckily, Gomes has a manager in Carsley who is well aware of how exciting he can be.
From Wonderkid to England Contender
Angel Gomes may have been an unexpected addition in Lee Carsley's first England squad - but he could become a mainstay in the senior set-up.
The 23-year-old is one of four players who have earned their first Three Lions call-up by his former England Under-21 boss.
And the attacking midfielder is now expected to make his debut in the upcoming Nations League matches against Ireland and Finland next month.
Lille maestro Gomes has likely taken Jude Bellingham's place in the England squad following the Real Madrid star's leg injury.
Gomes' Rise in France and His Unique Skillset
Capable of playing anywhere in midfield, Gomes has been destined for greatness from a young age having created Premier League history in May 2017.
After rising up through Manchester United's academy, he made his debut against Crystal Palace at the age of 16 years and 263 days old.
In doing so, he became the first person born this millennium to feature in the English top-flight.
One of the jewels in the Red Devils academy, Gomes even rubbed shoulders with his idol Cristiano Ronaldo during the 39-year-old's first spell at Old Trafford.
Following Ronaldo's return to the Theatre of Dreams three years ago, Gomes shared a throwback picture of him on X alongside the forward and Nani from 2007.
Gomes has previously stated how he looked up to Ronaldo growing up, citing him as one of his inspirations.
Speaking to United's website in 2020, he said: “In terms of footballers when I was young it was always Ronaldinho, the Brazilian players, Robinho, [plus] Cristiano Ronaldo at the time.
“I remember the Joga Bonito stuff with the freestyling and stuff like that.
“As a youngster, all you wanted to do was practise skills, so I’d say players like Ronaldo [were my inspiration].”
Since leaving United in 2020 after just ten first team appearances, Gomes has taken his game to another level in France, where he has become one of Lille's top players.
And Carsley has tipped him to shine for England's senior side in the middle of the park, as he explained how he will use him when speaking to talkSPORT's England correspondent Faye Carruthers.
He said: “Angel is very different to what we're used to in terms of what we would see as a typical English midfielder.
“Tactically, technically, physically, he's very good.
“The players will see him in training and they will instantly rate him because of the way that he takes the ball, and the way that he can manipulate the ball.
“I play him in deeper areas which is different to what he would expect [at Lille].
“I think he will combine with some of the other players really well in terms of they will enjoy playing with him and enjoy his skill.
“So I'm really looking forward to seeing Angel.”
The Future is Bright
The emergence of Gomes, alongside other Englishmen like Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, and Fikayo Tomori, highlights a new generation of talent that is thriving abroad. This signifies a shift in perspective for English players, who are no longer afraid to seek opportunities beyond the Premier League, showcasing their skills on a broader stage. Gomes' story is an inspiring example of a player who, despite initial doubts and challenges, has reinvented himself and become a valuable asset for his club and potentially for his national team.
The upcoming Nations League matches will be an exciting opportunity for Gomes to prove himself on the international stage, continuing his impressive journey and demonstrating his ability to excel at the highest level. His rise from a young prodigy to a key player for Lille and a potential cornerstone for England's future is a testament to his hard work, talent, and dedication. It is a story that is still being written, and the next chapter promises to be captivating.
