According to Anthony Gordon, there was “no chance” he would miss out on the England squad because of injury, which has seemingly cast him as part of the minority. In the countdown to Thursday night’s potentially decisive Nations League tie against Greece in Athens – and the Wembley meeting with Republic of Ireland three days later – the interim manager, Lee Carsley, has been undermined by withdrawals, among other issues.
There were an unprecedented eight on Monday, prompting a call for reinforcements and one of them – Jarrad Branthwaite, who was moved up from the under-21s – was unable to train fully and has not travelled, his place taken by the uncapped Jarell Quansah. So call it nine. And counting, because there is the fear that there will be more before the Ireland game.
Gordon could have given it a swerve. The excuse was there. He went off in the 80th minute of Newcastle’s victory at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, having felt a niggle from the hip problem he has carried. His manager, Eddie Howe, made it clear afterwards that he would be a doubt for England.
But Gordon has made it and as he prepared to win his eighth cap, the way he spoke would have delighted both Carsley and the England captain, Harry Kane, who talked of it being a tough period in the season and how “maybe there has been a taking advantage of that this week [from players] … I don’t really like it.” Gordon’s can-do attitude was to the fore and credit, as well, to Howe. Premier League managers have withdrawn their players for less over the years.
“Yeah, it’s really nice [to have Howe’s support],” Gordon said. “He loves England, he speaks very well [about the setup]. Even when I go back he always asks me and congratulates me on every cap I get. He’s English. I’m sure he wants to see England win.
“It wasn’t a possibility [not turning up]. I came to get assessed and see how the injury is and the staff here thought they could help me with it, which they have. They’ve done an excellent job because I’ve been training straight away. It’s gone to a certain extent. It’s an injury I had a couple of weeks ago and it stayed with me a little bit.”
What a week it has been for Carsley. Since he named a 26-man squad last Thursday, it has been all change, so many big names pulling out – chief among them Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Jack Grealish. Already injured were John Stones, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw. Carsley now has 23 players with him. Thirteen of them have four or fewer caps; seven have none at all.
There has been the public admonishment from the Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, over the original selection of Grealish, who has not kicked a ball since 20 October because of a groin complaint.
There has also been the sideshow over Thomas Tuchel and how England’s next permanent manager will not begin work until 1 January. It might be better late than never but why not now? Has it sent the wrong message? Would there have been so many withdrawals if it were Tuchel’s first camp in charge? Or even if he were turning up to watch? Oh, and Carsley has had two training sessions to prepare for a game that England must win, ideally by two goals.
The Football Association has made no secret of the requirement to secure promotion from the Nations League’s B section and nor has Carsley ducked the issue. “The importance of winning the group has been spelt out when we were talking about me doing the job,” he said.
If England were to finish as runners-up to Greece, they would have a two-legged promotion playoff in March against a third-placed team from the A section, which would set back the start of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. A one-goal England victory in Athens would leave them needing to better Greece’s result against Finland in the final round of ties. If Greece beat Finland by one, England would have to beat Ireland by two goals, and so on.
Revenge is a part of it. Carsley is determined to move on from the 2-1 Wembley loss to Greece in October when his all-attacking selection backfired spectacularly. “I 100% agree that we need to put the performance right,” he said.
What Carsley most wanted to stress was how opportunity knocked for the players that are here; Curtis Jones, perhaps, who stands to make his debut in midfield. Noni Madueke on the right wing, maybe. Gordon on the other side.
Gordon told a nice story about Tuchel, who had tried to sign him from Everton for Chelsea in the summer of 2022. “It was quite close and I was desperate to go at the time and work with him, especially,” Gordon said, as he remembered how Tuchel had spoken to him after the teams played each other.
“I shook his hand and he said some really complimentary things to me that I’ll keep to myself. I felt a lot of warmth from him which in turn made me really want to play for him.”
That will come but Gordon dismissed the notion that the England players will be conscious of the need to impress Tuchel. What matters is the present, and it matters to be present.
