Anthony Gordon has left the England camp just 36 hours before Monday's World Cup qualifier against Latvia, dealing a significant blow to the national team. The Newcastle United winger sustained a hip injury during the 2-0 victory over Albania on Friday and will now return to the north-east to continue his recovery.
In what could have been a pivotal match for Gordon, the 24-year-old was only given a brief 16-minute cameo off the bench by the new Three Lions boss, Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel had opted for Marcus Rashford on the left wing from the start, which brought an end to Gordon’s hopes of making a strong case for a regular starting spot ahead of Euro 2024.
After the game against Albania, Gordon had to be assisted off the field by FA medics after falling to the turf following the final whistle. Tuchel commented on the injury, saying, "He looks injured. I thought it was his stomach but it's his hip, and he doesn't look good." Subsequent assessments by England's medical staff confirmed that he would not be fit to participate in the Latvia match on Monday.
In the official statement released by the England football team, it was noted, "Anthony Gordon has withdrawn from the Three Lions camp having sustained an injury during Friday night's 2-0 win over Albania. The forward has returned to Newcastle United for further assessment. Speedy recovery, Anthony." This latest setback adds to the woes of Newcastle United’s manager, Eddie Howe, who is already without several key players due to injury, including Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, and Jamaal Lascelles.
With Gordon sidelined, Tuchel has a number of alternatives to consider for the left wing position. Marcus Rashford remains available, and if Tuchel seeks a different option, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, and Phil Foden could all step in. After the match against Albania, Tuchel emphasized the need for his wide players to provide more offensive impact. He said, "We hope for more impact in these positions. More dribbling and more aggressive runs towards the box. In general, that was missing. The chances come from the little runs behind the line. They were not as decisive as they can be."
This injury represents a disappointing turn for Gordon, who has only scored once in 10 appearances for England since making his debut last year. Having started as a promising talent under the previous management, he had been hoping for significant minutes during the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament. However, under Gareth Southgate, he found himself relegated to a bit-part role in the team’s advance to the final. Thus, this latest injury setback is expected to cast doubt on his future prospects with the national team.
As England prepares for the critical clash against Latvia, the squad must regroup and adapt to the changes. The loss of a player like Gordon, who has shown glimpses of his talent, could affect team morale and performance as the Three Lions aim to secure qualification for the World Cup.
While Anthony Gordon's ambitions for a long-term starting position may now be put on hold, he will certainly look to work hard during his recovery to earn back his place in both the club and national team. Fans and teammates alike will be hoping for a swift recovery for the talented winger, who has already begun a promising journey in international football.
With Euro 2024 just around the corner, the importance of each player's fitness cannot be overstated. As England approaches this qualifier against Latvia, all eyes will be on how Tuchel adapts his strategy and selects his starting eleven without Gordon's involvement.
