“He looks comfortable out there” – Angel Gomes shines as England defeats Finland 2-0 on Harry Kane’s special night | OneFootball

Interim England boss Lee Carsley secured his second consecutive win, further bolstering his case for a permanent appointment.

Following a relatively trouble-free victory over Ireland in their Nations League opener, England secured another straightforward 2-0 success against Finland at Wembley, and on the night that Harry Kane won his 100th cap, it was a first-time starter who could potentially be the cornerstone to usher in a new Three Lions era.

From last time out, there were four changes to England’s starting lineup—Rico Lewis, Angel Gomes, Ezri Konsa, and John Stones in for Levi Colwill, Kobbie Mainoo, Marc Guehi, and Harry Maguire—but it was Gomes, making his second appearance (the same as Lewis), who stood out in particular.

Having played under Carsley at the U21 level, his ascent has been a long time coming and one his former Manchester United youth team coach felt was inevitable, as Gomes possesses a particular set of skills that are rare in an England jersey.

“A Frenkie de Jong who can receive the ball off the back four and then move away, use disguises and so on,” Paul McGuinness told Sky Sports.

“Someone who has those skills to receive the ball with their back to goal to start the play and keep control. We’ve seen Rodri do it for Spain and Man City. That’s one profile that we would be trying to promote within our country to try and improve. We searched within the FA to try and improve that type of midfield player. That’s the type of player Angel is.”

It matches Carsley’s description of the player and hints at Gomes being an England regular, not just an experiment, during the interim manager’s tenure, however long it may be.

“Angel’s different to what we’ve got in terms of a player who can play deeper but play like a ten. He’s very skillful, the way he can receive balls, the way he can control games,” he said, while ex-Lille boss Paulo Fonseca said in April: “Angel is maybe the most intelligent player I have in my team.”

And Gomes himself, asked recently to reel off his positions, replied: “Left wing, right wing, number 10, high number 8, number 6, and double pivot.” Just as the Under-21s did, Carsley believes England’s senior team can reap the rewards.

“I think we’ve produced them,” Carsley commented on the lack of controlling midfielders, signalling a possible strategic pivot that could redefine England’s style of play.

“I spoke about it when we did the squad selection that I think that we have to get our eyes used to having this sort of player.

“He gets the ball, he slows things down and he gets you playing again. Even in a physical game like that. He’s more than capable of doing that.”

Indeed, he did. Positioned alongside “number six” Declan Rice, the Lille midfielder registered a game-high 130 touches and 124 passes of the ball, while committing three fouls and making two tackles, highlighting his aggressiveness in winning back possession. Although England dominated the ball, Gomes was able to complete at least one interception, showcasing his strong positional awareness.

It was Finland’s squandering of the ball that led to England’s opener. Trent Alexander-Arnold found Kane, who smashed home his 67th international goal. Some have begun to question how much longer England’s record goalscorer has left in the proverbial tank, and this was an opportunity to silence those murmurs. A second would soon follow, and while rightfully basking in all the applause, Gomes, meanwhile, went about his business effectively if unspectacular.

“He’s [Gomes] been neat and tidy. There is no surprises with that and he looks comfortable out there,” former Man Utd captain Roy Keane told ITV. “That’s a great sign. Body language and positioning – but also his defensive work.”

This could be the first of many appearances in a Three Lions shirt. Gomes has been earmarked as an important cog for some time. Only time will tell whether the 24-year-old fulfills that promise.

*Using Bookmaker/Affiliate links on squawka.com may earn us a commission, at no additional cost to you. 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. For more information, visit begambleaware.org.