Low-profile, and not the biggest, but Angel is now a giant influence

ONE of the many positive aspects of Angel Gomes' presence in this England set-up is that he has not yet had enough of his own publicity to believe in.

- ANDY DUNN

If you had to fire up a popular search engine when Gomes was called up for his senior debut last month, you were not alone.

Far from it.

After all, who tunes in to watch Lille, week in, week out? Manchester United fans probably remembered him from his prodigy years but those were a good while ago.

And while he played a key role in the successful Under-21 generation, only the most ardent of England followers closely monitor the juniors.

He is no billboard player, no marquee figure, no commercial phenomenon, no Jude Bellingham, no Cole Palmer, no Phil Foden.

And Gomes is no fledgling, having turned 24 in August.

But he is what every team needs - a selfless, uncomplicated conduit between defence and attack.

Over the Gareth Southgate years, a lot was made of England needing to be more positive, of England needing to be on the front foot.

But there are other ways to achieve that goal than by just stacking the line-up with the showcase attacking players.