Gomez in line for England return after four years

Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite could also be rewarded for his club form with a call-up to Southgate’s squad

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is in line to win his first England call-up in almost four years as manager Gareth Southgate contends with injuries.
There is belief that Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite could also be given the chance to make a late case to be taken to the European Championships.
Southgate names his squad for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium on Thursday, with a host of injuries limiting his options.
The England manager has particular problems in his full-back positions with Reece James, Luke Shaw, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Ben Chilwell all either injured or not fully fit.
Liverpool’s Gomez has played as a right-back and a left-back, as he did against Manchester City last weekend, this season.
He has played at centre-back, too, where Southgate also has problems with Harry Maguire having missed games through injury and Marc Guehi currently out.
That versatility, together with some excellent appearances is likely to be enough to win Gomez an England recall, having not been in a squad since October 2020.
Central defender Branthwaite has performed superbly for Everton in recent months and he could join Gomez in Southgate’s squad.
Gomez is expected to be spared what might have been an awkward reunion with Raheem Sterling, however.
Sterling and Gomez were involved in an altercation on England duty in 2019 after which the defender was booed by a section of supporters.
It is not expected that Sterling will be in Southgate’s latest squad, putting his participation in the European Championships in major doubt, while Gomez’s call will delight Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp responded to Gomez’s performance in the draw with City last Sunday by saying: “Joe Gomez. Gareth, honestly?”
For Liverpool, Gomez has also filled in as a holding midfielder, which is a position Southgate faces his biggest headache over.
Southgate must decide whether or not to stand by Kalvin Phillips, whose loan move to West Ham United has not gone well so far.
Manchester United teenager Kobbie Mainoo had been touted as a possible replacement for Phillips, but he is likely to be in the England Under-21s squad.