Angel Gomes receives first England call-up

The youngest player ever to represent Manchester United in the Premier League has been called up to play for England.

Angel Gomes made his United debut seven years ago, replacing Wayne Rooney in the dying minutes of a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford aged just 16 years and 263 days old.

And thanks to new interim England manager Lee Carsley, the now 23-year-old midfielder could be in line to represent his country at senior level for the first time in the upcoming Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

He has already featured on the international stage at youth levels, picking up 18 caps for England Under-21s and playing a major role in their Under-21 Euro 2023 triumph.

This is the first squad named by Carsley since he took charge of England following Gareth Southgate’s departure after the Euros earlier this year.

Gomes is one of four fresh faces in the squad, along with Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

The quartet are well-known to Carsley from his time as England Under-21s boss, but as the only one plying his trade abroad, Gomes is the most surprising inclusion.

The London-born midfielder shone last season for LOSC Lille, registering 10 assists in all competitions as they secured a fourth-place Ligue 1 finish.

His impressive form led manager Paulo Fonseca to describe him as “maybe the most intelligent player I have in my team”.

Gomes took the bold decision to turn down a reportedly lucrative contract at Old Trafford and leave for Lille on a free in June 2020.

Upon arrival in France he was immediately loaned to Portuguese side Boavista, and after a strong showing in the Primeira Liga gradually nailed down a regular spot in the Lille midfield, especially following Fonseca’s arrival in 2022.

Gomes has proven himself to be a versatile operator, playing all across the middle of the park in Lille’s successful last campaign, and was even linked with a sensational return to Old Trafford earlier this summer as Erik ten Hag searched for midfield reinforcements. Tottenham Hotspur were also said to be chasing his signature.

Regardless of any future transfers, Gomes’ name will always be in the Premier League history books as the first player born in the 2000s to appear in the competition.

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