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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Darren Bent has suggested that Liverpool’s Joe Gomez is currently one of the best defenders in the England squad.
What did he say?
Gomez has just seven caps to his name but has impressed Gareth Southgate before and if injury didn’t rule him out of the World Cup, and for much of last season, it is possible that he would be the first pick at centre-back alongside Harry Maguire.
He started the Reds’ opening three games of the season but has since been overlooked by Jurgen Klopp in favour of Joel Matip, and the same happened against Bulgaria on Saturday, which Bent believes is a mistake.
The former England striker is impressed with he attributes of the 23-year-old and believes he offers more than the other defenders at Southgate’s disposal.
Speaking to GameDay Verdict on talkSport [07/09/2019, 9:15 pm], he said: “If you look at the defenders, you’d probably have Maguire and Gomez [for Kosovo] because I really like Gomez, he’s a real top-quality defender. Before he had that injury he was a big powerhouse and a big powerful presence.
“It doesn’t surprise me that eventually, it’ll be him and Van Dijk, week in and week out at Liverpool. He’s that good.”
The former Charlton man is also adept with the ball at his feet, and has a calmness when under pressure from the forwards, and with Southgate clearly a fan it is possible that he was only looking to try out a player more untested, such as Michael Keane.
Regular starter?
At the moment, Harry Maguire seems to be the only centre-back who has nailed down a starting position in the England side, with other potential partners suffering from injury or a lack of game time.
That is the case for John Stones, his partner at the World Cup who only started 20 league games for Manchester City last season, and for Gomez whose injuries ruled him out for large parts too.
Despite his limited appearances at international level, the Liverpool defender still has more experience than the likes of Keane and Tyrone Mings, who was also called up, and therefore if he can stay injury-free it will likely be between him and Stones for a first-team place.
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Both offer Southgate the ability to play out from the back but as Bent alludes to, Gomez is more powerful, and quicker than the other options in the Three Lions squad, which gives him an advantage.
If he can get back to performing for Liverpool on a consistent basis he should feature for England more, and perhaps become a permanent fixture in the starting XI.
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