by From the outside looking in, to borrow the words Joe Gomez uses, no one would understand. When the Liverpool defender stepped onto England’s main training ground at St George’s Park on Tuesday, it was his first involvement with the squad since November 2020. Everyone knew that and so did he recognized that it was something special from time to time.
What they didn’t realize, as a top footballer went through a fairly regular session, was what was bubbling up inside. For Gomez, it was a return to the scene of his most traumatic incident, when an innocuous move, the kind he made throughout his career without thought, changed life.
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Gomez is out on the other side, having starred for Liverpool in various positions, looking to bring the curtain down on the Jürgen Klopp era in style. His England recall for the Wembley friendlies against Brazil and Belgium has been met with great joy. But the words fall out with particular force when he goes back to the fateful day, that one action, which gave him perspective; reason, too. He was desperate to “close the chapter,” as he says. Only now he is able to do that.
“It was the same pitch,” says the 26-year-old. “We were doing 11 v 11 when I got the injury. It was a patella tendon rupture. I was alone. I went to play a pass, I put my foot and then it broke. It was pretty awful. My knees were halfway up my leg. A lot of it is blurry because of the pain.
“It was a bit surreal [to return]. I prepared myself mentally but I think naturally there was a bit of underlying trauma that I can draw a line under, coming back. It meant a lot in that sense.
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take a psychological toll when I suddenly left here in an ambulance from the training ground. [the last time]. Just doing the warm-up on Tuesday, it was nice. Everyone is hurt but because it was so sudden and he never got a chance to come back … it was hard to deal with.”
Gomez did not play again for nine and a half months. The last of his 11 England caps came against Wales in October 2020 in a friendly behind closed doors during the Covid pandemic. He was involved against Iceland and Denmark the previous month, also ghost games. So the last time he played for England in front of the crowd was against Montenegro in November 2019 when some of the Wembley crowd booed him instead of bringing him on as a substitute.
Crime Gomez? Raheem Sterling was attacked in the St George’s Park canteen after the squad met, continuing their beef from the Liverpool v Manchester City game the previous day; Sterling was at City at the time. Gareth Southgate had given Sterling a one-match ban and the fans, strangely, had blamed Gomez. If he could be involved now against Brazil or Belgium in front of a packed house, it would be another significant sign.
“He was testing … you never want that to happen in front of your own crowd,” says Gomez. “Although it’s a situation I’ve moved past for a long time. I’m looking forward to getting back in front of the fans and playing. I didn’t delve too deep into it or let myself eat too much. I understood. It wasn’t great, of course. I would be lying [if I said otherwise].”
Gomez is most interesting when he reflects on his journey from the tendon injury to form Klopp said on Sunday before: “Joe Gomez … Gareth, honestly?” Gomez has excelled as a dominant left-back, even in defensive midfield, as well as right-back and his preferred position as a centre-half. Southgate prizes flexibility and could do even more at Euro 2024 in the summer when he names a 23-man squad; he was 26 at the previous two tournaments.
What’s amazing about Gomez is how close to home the hardships he’s endured are. He uses it as fuel. There was a clear note of catharsis as he spoke on Wednesday evening.
“The last time I saw Gareth, I was on the bed waiting for the ambulance,” he says. “It was the hardest point in my career – just that moment because of how it happened. It’s a huge part of my life and I wouldn’t shy away from it.
“A lot of my appeal and motivation comes from working in that period to go back and I don’t want to lose that because it shaped who I am. It definitely changed my application in terms of everything – recovery, gym work and so on.
“Psychologically it was tough as I was alone [when the injury happened] and I had to trust my body again. But I’m grateful for it all. I can always lean on it to keep perspective and see the positives.”
Gomez was not expecting the call from Southgate. He had booked a short break to Dubai and had to cancel it. But he doesn’t pretend he hasn’t “spent a lot of time trying to get back with the boys and get back to this level”. It was only natural that Gomez asked questions about his ambitions in terms of the European Championship. One step at a time. He has already done something seismic.
