Gareth Southgate insists Anthony Gordon is a 'serious contender'
Anthony Gordon was not looking ahead to the Euros or even Tuesday’s game against Belgium back at Wembley. Instead, a training session at Tottenham’s North London base was his only concern and another chance to impress Gareth Southgate.
This is the stuff we do not see, the days when a manager’s thinking is influenced. Last week, Gordon trained alongside Jude Bellingham every day on the left of an attacking three. Come Saturday, he was making his England debut in the same position.
Southgate will like Gordon, in the same way Eddie Howe does at Newcastle. He trains as he plays and never misses a minute, be that through the week or come the weekend. ‘Availability is the best ability,’ he told Mail Sport this month.
But, with England, you also need something more. Against Brazil, Gordon was England’s next best after Bellingham. He did not guarantee a seat on the plane to the finals, but his partner Annie - long since wanting to book a summer holiday - could well be minded to swap those brochures for a German phrasebook. The winger was industrious, dependable and responsible for two of England’s three shots on target.
‘It was not quite how I envisaged it - I’m quite hard on myself, so I wanted to score and win,’ said Gordon. ‘If I think like that, I can’t do myself any harm.
‘But it’s still an amazing day for me, I relished every minute of it. It’s been the best day of my life. I have imagined it in the garden since I was a kid, recreating Rooney and Gerrard's goals. It’s just an amazing moment. I’ve got a taste now, so I want more.’
When he was replaced by Marcus Rashford in the 75th minute, there was a warm embrace with Southgate. What did he say?
‘He was saying, “Fantastic”,’ revealed Gordon. ‘He was really pleased for me and I
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