Why Joe Gomez's England call-up marks the return to the utility man
Joe Gomez owes his England recall to his excellent form and consistency for Liverpool rather than his ability to fill in anywhere across the back line and even as a deep midfielder.
He is back to his best, high on confidence in a winning team at the sharp end of the Premier League but it is undeniably true that genuine versatility is a precious commodity whenever an international tournament looms into view.
That must work in favour of Gomez, who is proving more versatile than the humble potato as Gareth Southgate juggles options for Euro 2024, where squad size will be restricted to 23 for the first time since the World Cup in 2018.
There were squads of 26 at Euro 2020 to cover the possibility of positive Covid tests and quarantine procedures and in Qatar 2022 because the tournament started in November, midseason for most participating countries and there was a fear of muscle injuries.
This summer in Germany can herald the return of the utility player.
Southgate covered options in Russia 2018 with Phil Jones, Fabian Delph and Eric Dier, all capable of playing in different positions, and his predecessor Roy Hodgson relied on James Milner for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and Euro 2016.
Milner is one of the most versatile footballers since Paul Madeley, perhaps the original utility man who wore every shirt from 2-12 in Don Revie’s Leeds United team as was just as comfortable at centre forward as right back.
Madeley won 24 international caps playing four different positions from 1971-79, a period when England failed to qualify for a World Cup and the Euros did not amount to much of a tournament.
Gary Stevens of Tottenham won selection for Mexico 86 as a centre-half who could also cover for his namesake, Gary Stevens of Everton,
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