Angel Gomes is the unlikely talisman to lead new Lee Carsley era

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Managers have touchstone players. Players who almost become symbols, talismen of how they want to play. Their representative on the pitch. As he announced his first England squad it was clear, for Lee Carsley, who that player is. Step forward, Angel Gomes.
Maybe it is heaping too much pressure on an uncapped midfielder, plying his trade in Ligue 1 with Lille, but there was no doubting how highly Carsley rates him as he talked about his first call-up.
“I think he is a player people will be really excited to see,” Carsley declared of Gomes who moved to Lille in 2020, after a loan spell in Portugal – who he is eligible to represent through his father, Gil, a former Under-21 international – with Boavista, having come through the Manchester United youth system.
In fact at 16 years and 263 days, Gomes – who is 24 on Saturday – became the youngest player to represent United since Duncan Edwards, as he came on as a substitute to replace Wayne Rooney in the final Premier League match of 2016-17. But he was released having made just 10 appearances and failing to agree a new contract, fearing he would not play regularly at United.
Even so, the versatile midfielder became the key player for Carsley’s Under-21 side that went on win the Euros last year, beating Spain in the final and so highly is he rated that he has now usurped Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
“Angel (who is just 5ft 6in tall) is probably different to what we’ve seen in the past in terms of the central midfielder that is a little bit more physical, more robust,” Carsley explained. “Angel is very technical, he controls the game with his skill and technique. He is very determined, has an excellent attitude, loves football and technically and tactically he is excellent.”
Gomes was on Gareth Southgate’s radar – he was name-checked more than once by the now former England manager – but was never selected.
It was not just his contribution for the Under-21s that convinced Carsley to include him for his first senior squad. He recalled watching Gomes – who can play as a number 10, eight or deep-lying midfielder (where he will probably be used by England) – face star-studded Paris Saint-Germain, including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, in February last year at the Parc des Princes. Lille lost 4-3, having led with four minutes to go. But for Carsley it was Gomes who stood out.
“He was by far the best player on the pitch. Against a top team. To see him do that in that environment gave me real confidence that he could do that for us,” he said.
“So, he’s a player that we’re probably not used to seeing in terms of … our eye in not used to that kind of player. But, yet, when we watched a Portugal team or a Spain team … [you think] Ah, I really like that No10. I really like him.
“We’ve got players like that within our pathway that need a chance. Angel has had to go to another country to get that and get that belief but if you looked at his previous … he was such a talent, they had such high hopes for him at Manchester United. He’s just had to find a different route to get to where he is. It will be good to see him this season, especially playing in the Champions League. I expect him to go from strength to strength.”
In choosing his 26-strong squad, Carsley talked about how important it was to put his own “mark” on it even if, as interim manager, he is only initially in charge for the six games of the forthcoming Nations League campaign.
“We are coming off the back of losing in a final, I feel the squad need that little injection of energy and enthusiasm. These players have earned the right,” Carsley said.
Unsurprisingly he has turned to the team that won that Under-21s Euros with him including five who started against Spain – Gomes, Levi Colwill and Morgan Gibbs-White as well as Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon. Another, Noni Madueke, came off the bench.
“A lot of these players we’ve called in are used to winning and getting to the latter stages of tournaments,” Carsley said. “Morgan and Angel were part of the World Cup team that won a few years back and they’ve done the Euros as well.” That was in reference to England winning the Under-17 World Cup in 2017 with Gomes captaining a side that also included Marc Guehi and Phil Foden.
Carsley said that Gomes had been “emotional” when he called him with the news of his selection – as had other players – while there were some “tough” conversations with others who had been left out. While Jack Grealish is recalled “with a point to prove”, for example, there is no place for James Maddison or Marcus Rashford “with players ahead of them” at present. Ben White continues to make himself unavailable.
Kyle Walker is omitted but is in Carsley’s plans, he insisted, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is most definitely a right-back and Harry Maguire returns as a “leader”.
Certainly, though, there is an even more youthful feel to Carsley’s squad – hardly surprising given where he has come from – while the 50-year-old himself gets to grips with the job.
“I’m not sat here, managed one season in the Premier League, one season in the Championship. Been on Sky and done a bit of punditry,” said Carsley, a former caretaker manager at Brentford, Coventry City and Birmingham City, who has bided his time and worked his way through with England. He has turned down chances to manage clubs in the past.
“I’ve built really strong foundations in my coaching career, from driving the minibus at Coventry for the Under-18s to doing the Under-15s on a Wednesday night, to coaching the college team at Solihull on a Wednesday afternoon to where I am today.
“That’s why I don’t feel overawed by this situation, in terms of the expectancy and all the rest of it. Every time we’d pick an Under-21s team, we expect to win, we expect to play in a certain way, I can’t see that being any different with the senior team. If they come in and they feel that and believe that I think we can have a really good three months.”
Carsley also, evidently, wants players who know how he works. Gomes is suddenly at the forefront of that.
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United)
Defenders: Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Angel Gomes (Lille), Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Chelsea) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Named in a #ThreeLions squad for the first time in over a year.Welcome back, @Popey1992! 👊 pic.twitter.com/5LGSDg9kzl
For me, it’s not really that important, again, the mistakes I made in the past when in these positions is that I tell people too many times whether or not I want to do the job, but then forget to actually do it.
The priority is to get out of Nations League B and not to worry too much about the future.
In this exclusive interview with John Percy, the Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder said he was ready for senior international honours and Lee Carsley has granted him that wish. Gibbs-White is a player Carsley knows well from the youth ranks which should hold him in good stead.
From #YoungLions to #ThreeLions 🦁Congratulations to @Morgangibbs27, @agomes_47, @NoniMadueke_ and Tino Livramento on their first senior call-ups! pic.twitter.com/SqIm7Twkq0
As far as I’m aware he wasn’t available for selection. Nothing has changed in my two weeks of being. As far as I’m aware, there has been no change there.
He’s always played well, but he made himself unavailable for selection.
I’m really excited to work with Jack, I’ve seen his talent, maybe one of those players coming (back) in who have a point to prove.
40 caps for the Republic of Ireland is something I am really proud of. I am just as proud of today.
I’m definitely proud of my heritage, I was back in Cork in the summer at a family reunion. I’m really looking forward to the game in Dublin, I think it is is going to be a great decision.
For me, in this camp especially, he’s be a right-back. Like a lot of modern defenders, they have attributes that turn them into midfielders. They are very comfortable receiving the ball and playing forwards. I think he’ll arrive into those areas, but I see him as a right-back.
Ash is someone I’ve worked with with the Under-21s, good coaches and more importantly good people. With the age of some of the players, having someone they can talk to about experiences on and off the pitch is valuable.
Morgan is a very attacking player, full of creativity and energy. Brilliant work rate and very difficult to play against, and he has done very well with England. He is used to winning.
Angel is a different to what we have seen in the past to the central midfielders we have seen in the past – he is very skillful and controls a game with his technique. I think he is a player people will be excited to see.
I wouldn’t really say it was my style, we’ve been really fortunate with the pool of players we have to pick from, we had some really exciting attacking players. You want to put players in the positions where they can succeed.
In the summer we had to be creative with the way we played because of a lack of players in certain position.
You have to dominate your opponent, with and without possession.
A real proud moment for my family and myself. A really hectic few weeks getting to grips with the magnitude of the job. Trying to get around and watch as many games and as many players as you can.
Usually you got to a club and things haven’t gone very well, but this is the opposite.
I understand I’m in a really privileged position and I am looking forward to it. I wanted to put my own stamp on it but recognise how well we have done in the past, but I thought it was important to bring some fresh faces in.
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Phil Foden (Man City), Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Angel Gomes (Lille), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
According to The Athletic, Jack Grealish is back in the England squad and Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has earned a call-up, fresh off his hat-trick at Wolves.
 
Aaron Ramsdale is expected to be announced as a Southampton player after the promoted club agreed a permanent transfer with Arsenal. The fee is understood to be £18 million, rising to a possible £25 million with performance-related add-ons. It is good news for Carsley that one of his senior goalkeeper will be playing regular football again, having lost his place to David Raya at Arsenal.
The future of Ivan Toney is yet to be settled with the transfer window closing at 11pm on Friday night. Raheem Sterling, though no longer an England regular, needs to find the Chelsea exit. This is what every Premier League needs to do before the window slams shut.
Non-England related, but Jonny Evans has announced his Northern Ireland retirement while Leicester City title-winner Marc Albrighton has retired from the professional game. He won eight caps for England’s Under-21s.
A moment no England fan will ever forget.❤️ @trippier2 pic.twitter.com/Eso6Cw4iMB
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Lee Carsley’s first squad announcement as England’s interim manager for September’s Nations League fixtures against Finland and Republic of Ireland.
One player who will not be part of Carsley’s squad is full-back Kieran Trippier, who has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect.
A post on Tripper’s Instagram read: “I never thought as a young lad from Bury that I would play for my country let alone achieve 54 caps. 
“It’s been one of the biggest honours of my life to represent my country at 4 major tournaments “I want to say a big thank you to Gareth and all the staff that have worked with the England squad for the trust they have placed in me throughout the years. 
“Thank you to all my team-mates – we have had some very special moments reaching 2 Euro finals, and a World Cup semi final and I am sure in the future this group of players will win a major tournament. 
“I want to wish Lee, the coaching staff and the team all the best for the future . 
“And finally a big thank you to all the England fans for your incredible support travelling all over the world to support us and keeping us going in the difficult moments.”
Ben White could have strengthened England’s defensive options but the Arsenal man is expected to remain on the sidelines.
White, 26, made himself unavailable for selection during the March internationals last season having returned early from the 2022 World Cup for personal reasons. Despite some speculation that White could return to the fold under Carsley, the situation is not understood to have changed.
Jack Grealish will be hoping for a recall though, after he was a surprise omission for the summer tournament in Germany. It is unlikely that Marcus Rashford has done enough to force his way back in, although there is a school of thought that England, and especially captain Harry Kane, missed a player of his profile at the Euros.
Jude Bellingham will miss out on the first post-Southgate squad due to a calf injury.
“Nothing I hate more than missing games but trying to see the positive side and maybe my body is telling me it needs a bit more rest after a busy year,” the 21-year-old posted on social media last week.
“I’m very frustrated but I’ll be supporting the lads like a fan until I can rejoin them again in my best and strongest form.
“Thanks for your messages of concern and support. Lots of love and Hala Madrid!”