To borrow the words used by Joe Gomez, no one would notice from the outside. When the Liverpool defender appeared on England’s main training ground at St George’s Park on Tuesday, it was his first involvement with the team since November 2020. Everyone knew this and therefore realized that this was a very special moment.
What they didn’t realize was what was bubbling inside as a top football player went through a fairly routine session. For Gomez, it was a return to the most traumatic scene of her career, when an innocuous, impulsive act led to life-changing consequences.
Relating to: ‘Pretty crazy few days’: Kobbie Mainoo sets sights on Euros after England call-up
Gomez, on the other hand, is playing in various positions at Liverpool and trying to close the curtain on the Jürgen Klopp era in style. England’s delight at his recall for Wembley friendlies against Brazil and Belgium is clearly evident. But when he looks back to that fateful day, that single act that gave him perspective, the words come out with special force; It’s also a reason. He was desperate to “close the chapter,” as he put it. He was only able to do this now.
“It was the same field,” says the 26-year-old. “We were playing 11-on-11 when I got injured. It was a patellar tendon rupture. I was on my own. I went to play the pass, I stepped on it, and then it broke. It was pretty scary. My kneecap came halfway up my leg. A lot of it is blurry because of the pain.”
“It was a little surreal [to return]. I had prepared myself mentally, but I guess naturally there was an underlying trauma and now I can draw a line under that and go back. It meant a lot in that sense.
“I would be lying if I said it didn’t have psychological damage because I left the training ground suddenly in an ambulance. [the last time]. It was nice to do warm-up exercises on Tuesday. “Everyone gets injured but it was hard to deal with because it was so sudden and there was never a chance of coming back.”
Gomez did not play again for nine and a half months. The last of his 11 appearances for England was against Wales in October 2020, in a friendly played behind closed doors during the Covid pandemic. He also featured in ghost matches against Iceland and Denmark last month. He last played for England in front of a home crowd against Montenegro in November 2019, and his debut as a substitute was booed by a section of the Wembley fans.
Is it Gomez’s fault? Being attacked by Raheem Sterling in the St George’s Park canteen after the team met was a follow-up to the brawls at the Liverpool v Manchester City match the previous day; Sterling was at City at the time. Gareth Southgate handed Sterling a one-match ban and fans strangely blamed Gomez. If he can now play in front of a packed crowd against Brazil or Belgium, that would be another important sign.
“It was a test… you never want that to happen in front of your own crowd,” Gomez says. “Although this is a scenario I have long since left behind. I’m looking forward to playing in front of the fans. I didn’t delve too deeply or let it consume me too much. I understand Frankly, it wasn’t great. I would be lying [if I said otherwise].”
It’s interesting to think about Gomez’s journey back to form, which Klopp said on the Sunday before his tendon injury: “Joe Gomez… Gareth, honestly?” Gomez has excelled as a defensive midfielder as well as a right-back and even as a makeshift left-back in his favorite centre-back position. Southgate prizes versatility and could do even more at Euro 2024, when he will name a 23-man squad in the summer; It was 26 in the previous two tournaments.
What’s remarkable about Gomez is how close she stays to the difficulties she’s going through. It uses it as fuel. There was a clear note of catharsis when he spoke Wednesday afternoon.
“The last time I saw Gareth I was in bed waiting for the ambulance,” he says. “It was the hardest point of my career; just because of that moment, how it happened. This is a big part of my life and I won’t shy away from it.
“A big part of my application and motivation comes from working during that time to come back, and I don’t want to lose that because it made me who I am. This definitely changed every aspect of my application; recovery, gym workouts, etc.
“It was psychologically difficult because I was on my own [when the injury happened] and I had to trust my body again. But I’m grateful for it all. “I can always count on him to keep perspective and see the positives.”
Gomez wasn’t expecting the call from Southgate. He had booked a short holiday to Dubai and needed to cancel. But she doesn’t act like she “didn’t spend enough time being with the kids and getting back to that level.” It was natural for Gomez to ask questions about his ambitions for the European Championship. Step by step. He’s already done something seismic.