Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged England boss Gareth Southgate to bring Joe Gomez back into the international fold for the first time since October 2020.
Gomez was on the fringes of the England squad between 2017 and 2020, picking up 11 caps before a fall in minutes with Liverpool ultimately saw him lose his spot in Southgate’s squad.
The versatile defender saw an upturn in his minutes last season and has been an integral part of Klopp’s team this year, making 39 appearances in all competitions and impressing all across the Liverpool backline.
While reviewing Gomez’s latest performance, an impressive showing in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City, Klopp sent a message to Southgate about Gomez’s international future.
“Joe Gomez…Gareth, honestly?” Klopp said.
This was Klopp’s second message to Southgate about Gomez in recent weeks, with the Liverpool boss recently insisting Gomez’s versatility should make him a shoo-in for a spot in the squad.
“I am not standing here telling Gareth who he should pick. but you can get one player and have four positions covered,” Klopp said last week. “Wonderful.”
Southgate gave Gomez his England Under-21 debut in September 2015 and then called him up to the senior squad in November 2017. The defender looked set to secure a spot in the squad for the 2018 World Cup, only for an ankle injury to put an end to his hopes.
After returning to the squad, Gomez suffered a knee injury while away with England in November 2020, and he has not played for his international side since.
