16 November 2023 , 22:30
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Anthony Gordon has been told his England chance will come.
Scotland are interested in trying to snap up Newcastle forward Gordon who has Scottish paternal grandparents. But England boss Gareth Southgate made it clear that Gordon - who was Player of the Tournament at last summer’s under-21 Championships - was very much on his radar despite not getting a call.
Southgate said: “He is a good player. He was very good with our under-21s last year and is very close. I like his attitude, I like the way he works hard for the team.
“Of course he was hoping to get a call at this moment but there are good players playing well in this position but like a couple of others, they have to think further ahead about opportunities which will come up and for someone like Anthony that is eminently possible with us.”
One player ready to start for the Three Lions on Friday night is Conor Gallagher, who has declared himself fit to start at Wembley - and nothing was ever going to stop him.
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Southgate revealed the Chelsea midfielder reported up with a knock but says he immediately made it clear he was desperate to play. He loves Gallagher’s attitude and looks set to start him against Malta as other injuries will force him into changes for Wembley and in North Macedonia next Monday.
Southgate said: “He has got tremendous drive. This week is a classic for me. He has come with a bit of a knock from the weekend but he walked through the door saying ‘it is a bit sore but I will be fine for Friday’.
“There was no way he was going home, there was no way he wasn't going to give himself every chance. He wasn't able to train for the first few days but he was determined he would be available and that, in a nutshell, is what is going to be one of his greatest strengths.
Conor Gallagher has shone for Chelsea this season (Getty Images)“That will allow himself to achieve everything he might in the game because his ,mentality is outstanding, I think positionally, his best attributes lend himself to that either attacking eight or pressing as a 10 as he did for his club at the weekend.
“His pressing is probably as good as anyone in the League. He regained and recovered so many balls and in the final third he has a goal in him. He hasn't achieved that this season with his club but we saw that with his spell at Crystal Palace and we saw that when he trained with us.
“So I think although, at times, he has played lower and can play lower, his best attributes are slightly higher as a midfield player, pressing the counter press, the regains, but his receiving skills and his passing lower, when he receives, have definitely improved in the last six months as well.”