Joe Gomez to be rewarded after outstanding start to the campaign

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Joe Gomez is set to be handed his latest international audition when England face Spain in the UEFA Nations League on Monday.

Manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed the defender will start at Estadio Benito Villamarin following his standout start to the Premier League campaign.

It will mark Gomez’s fifth cap for the senior team as he steps in for John Stones, who is carrying out a suspension after picking up a yellow card against Croatia on Friday.

Southgate is known to be an avid admirer of Gomez having worked closely with him during his time as England’s U21s boss.

The former Charlton prospect was given his Three Lions debut by Southgate last November when he was introduced as a first-half substitute against Germany.

Discussing the Liverpool man, Southgate said: “He’s in really good form for his club and his matches for us against Spain and Brazil have been really polished,” per Sky Sports.

“He’s a young defender but he is a very good defender, good athleticism, uses the ball well. I’m looking forward to seeing him in this game. It’s another opportunity for us to look at younger players.”

Joe Gomez – Image by Liverpoolfc.com

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Gomez is no stranger to facing Europe’s top talent on the international stage, with his four caps coming against the likes of Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands and Spain.

His meeting with the Dutch marked the end of his 2017/2018 season when he was forced off injured in the first-half of March’s 1-0 win.

A spell on the sidelines would subsequently crush his strong chances of earning a spot in Southgate’s World Cup squad in Russia.

Having played a starring role in Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the league season, he has undoubtedly warranted another opportunity in England’s starting lineup.

The centre-back has taken monumental strides in the early months of the campaign, complimenting his composure as a reliable distributor with an enhanced positional awareness and a commanding aerial presence.
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