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 tonight'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 Premier League managers have withdrawn their players for less over the years.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 14, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 14, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Keep pledge on Britons held abroad, Lammy told
Families of prominent British prisoners detained abroad have urged the foreign secretary to deliver on pledges to help secure their release amid signs of growing resistance from diplomats.
Online brutality How grim genre is affecting young people
It took about 90 seconds for Rianna Montaque to see violence on her X account: a fight in a restaurant that escalated into a full-on brawl with chairs smashed over heads as bodies went sprawling.
Sleightholme soars as England end series on high
A disappointing calendar year for England has at least ended with a flurry of nine tries and a healthier looking outcome.
'We are going to suffer' Amorim warns United after fast start fizzles out
Ruben Amorim said Manchester United will have to \"suffer for a long period\" before their fortunes turn after his first game in charge ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Ipswich.
Leicester sack Cooper after five months in charge
Leicester City sacked Steve Cooper as manager yesterday after just five months in charge.
Guardiola admits he must 'find a way' to win again
Pep Guardiola is defiant that he will end Manchester City's five-match losing sequence, with the manager stating it is \"my responsibility\" to do so.
This joyless incoherence will utterly destroy any illusions
Amorim already knows the scale of the job. And the scale is: really very big indeed
Amorim gets taste of reality as Ipswich rally
It was plainly too good to be true. Or to last. There were 82 seconds on the stadium clock when the Ruben Amorim era at Manchester United was jumpstarted.
Dibling lights up bewildering day when goals were low points
For all that most people would have considered the result an inevitability, there was little that was predictable about this game.
Steady Slot 'We're definitely not getting carried away'
Arne Slot insisted Liverpool will not get carried away after soaring eight points clear of Manchester City, warning his players that Arsenal surrendered the same advantage last year.