'It's been a difficult week... but one that will make him stronger': England boss Gareth Southgate believes Joe Gomez will be better for the experience as the most turbulent week of his career - which saw him booed at Wembley - ends in freak injury

  • Joe Gomez's turbulent week with England has concluded with a freak injury 
  • He's been in the news since Monday after an altercation with Raheem Sterling
  • Gomez hurt his knee in a clash with Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier on Friday  
  • Gareth Southgate believes Gomez will be stronger after such a turbulent week 

Gareth Southgate insists Joe Gomez will be stronger for the experience after the most turbulent week of his career ended with a freak injury.

The Liverpool defender, who has been in the headlines since Monday following an altercation with Raheem Sterling at St George's Park, damaged his knee in a collision with Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier on Friday – the morning after he was booed at Wembley – and was taken for a scan.

Gomez has some swelling around his knee and while it is understood the injury is not too serious, it was sufficient enough for Southgate to take the decision to leave him at home rather than subject him to a flight out to Kosovo for Sunday's Euro 2020 qualifier.

Joe Gomez is out of England's final Euro 2020 qualifier due to a knee injury suffered in training

Joe Gomez is out of England's final Euro 2020 qualifier due to a knee injury suffered in training

It was, Southgate conceded, a scarcely believable footnote to what has been a challenging period for the 22-year-old. He had nothing to do with causing the rumpus with Sterling yet he was subjected to treatment from the Wembley crowd that left the head coach and team-mates aghast.


Southgate would not confirm whether Gomez would have played here had he been fit but it was clear he was hugely disappointed for a player he has long held in high regard. He hopes there will be no lasting damage.

'You couldn't make it up if you tried,' said Southgate. 'He's absolutely fine. He took a clash of knees yesterday. We scanned it just to be certain and I think he'll be fine in a couple of days but he wasn't able to train. 

A section of England fans booed Gomez after he came on against Montenegro at Wembley

A section of England fans booed Gomez after he came on against Montenegro at Wembley

'We have to put a 23-man squad in at midnight tonight, so it was a simple decision.

'I wanted to get him into the game (against Montenegro) because he hadn't played in September or October, even though he'd been involved in both camps, so there was nothing other than for getting him on the pitch in those games.

'I think now is a good moment for him just to go home for a couple of days, clear his head. 

'The pleasing thing for me is that we've got him back on the pitch. I think the fact Raheem put out the tweet that he did the other night was real closure on that whole incident.'

Closure is perhaps not the right term. It would be wrong to understate the frustration and anger Gomez, who was left with a deep scratch under his right eye after Sterling leapt at him, felt when the Wembley crowd singled him out.

Gomez was involved in a clash with Raheem Sterling (left) at St George's Park on Monday

Gomez was involved in a clash with Raheem Sterling (left) at St George's Park on Monday 

When asked what the squad had done to lift Gomez, Southgate replied: 'I spoke to him after the game, his team-mates spoke after the game and he'd picked that feeling up then. 

'He was in a much better place very quickly. We actually ended up having a chuckle this morning.

'It's ridiculous, him having to go home in the way he is. It's been a difficult week, as you say, but one that will make him stronger and one that he's dealt with really well.'

Liverpool will assess Gomez when he reports back to Melwood, along with Jordan Henderson, who was also spared the trip to Kosovo as he was still feeling the effects of a virus.