Man Utd, Mourinho & France - Gomes' route to call-up

Lee Carsley's first squad arsenic interim England head included a fewer astonishment inclusions - nary much truthful than 23-year-old midfielder Angel Gomes.

The London-born erstwhile Manchester United Academy merchandise only has 46 minutes of Premier League acquisition to his name, but has forged a successful profession astatine French Ligue 1 broadside Lille, helping them suffice for this season's Champions League.

He has represented England astatine each property group from under-16s to under-21s and has a chance to gain a elder debut for nan Three Lions successful either their Nations League distant crippled against nan Republic of Ireland connected 7 September aliases astatine Wembley 3 days later versus Finland.

BBC Sport has taken a look astatine his profession truthful far, which has included reliable emotion nether Jose Mourinho and a devastating United exit earlier thriving successful France.

Gomes did not person to look acold for shot inspiration.

His begetter Gil Gomes represented Portugal astatine under-21 level and helped them triumph nan 1991 Fifa Youth World Championship.

A crowd of 127,000 astatine Benfica's Estadio da Luz watched Portugal, whose broadside included early Portuguese legends Luis Figo and Rui Costa, conclusion Brazil successful nan last connected penalties.

Angel Gomes was calved successful Edmonton, northbound London, but his family moved to Salford erstwhile he was young and he started training pinch nan Manchester United younker strategy aged six. He became an integral portion of nan club's under-18 side, which was managed by Kieran McKenna, now leader of Premier League broadside Ipswich Town.

Gomes made his elder United debut successful nan past lucifer of nan 2016-17 season, coming connected successful nan 88th minute, replacing Wayne Rooney, successful a 2-0 triumph complete Crystal Palace.

In doing so, Gomes became nan first subordinate calved successful nan 2000s to play successful nan Premier League and, astatine nan property of 16 years and 263 days old, was nan youngest subordinate to correspond United since Duncan Edwards successful 1953.

But Gomes would not spot immoderate much Premier League action for 19 months.

Then-boss Jose Mourinho only gave Gomes 2 minutes of first-team shot successful 2017-18, arsenic a precocious substitute successful a 4-0 triumph complete Yeovil Town successful nan FA Cup 4th round.

Gomes mislaid Mourinho's faith, pinch nan Portuguese criticising nan teen successful beforehand of his team-mates.

In an interview pinch Sport Bible successful 2022,, external Gomes revealed 1 nationalist Mourinho humiliation near him connected nan verge of tears.

"We were astatine nan meal array and he's travel astir speaking to everyone," said Gomes. "He brought up my capacity from nan time before. He was saying: 'You were doing this and doing that but you should person done this and that.' And this was successful beforehand of nan full squad.

"He yet vanished shouting. I was stuck to my seat. Some of nan lads came complete and said: 'Don't worry, he's trying to get a guidance from you. This is really he is.'

"I was only young truthful successful my caput I was thinking: 'He hates me.' I went backmost to my room and rang my dad. I was astir crying."

Mourinho's departure from United successful December 2018 gave an instant profession boost to Gomes arsenic he made his 2nd Premier League substitute quality successful Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 2nd lucifer successful charge.

But again he could not cement a spot successful nan side.

By nan extremity of nan 2019-20 campaign, Gomes, now 19, had only made 10 elder United appearances, including 5 arsenic a substitute successful nan Premier League pinch his 3 starts each coming successful nan Europa League.

With first-team chances limited, he rejected nan connection of a caller statement and moved to Lille connected a free transfer.

A indebtedness spell astatine Portuguese broadside Boavista gave Gomes nan first-team shot he craved, pinch him scoring six goals and creating 3 assists successful 30 appearances.

At 5ft 6in pinch an oculus for a walk and nan accomplishment to tally astatine and dribble past opponents, he was seen arsenic a winger astatine United, but he has been utilized much centrally and defensively ever since and tin run crossed nan midfield.

He has been a Lille regular ever since and has contributed 14 assists successful Ligue 1 complete nan past 2 seasons, pinch nary subordinate having much assists than his 8 successful 2023-24.

While Premier League fans whitethorn not cognize overmuch of Gomes, Carsley is good alert of his talent having worked together erstwhile he was successful complaint of nan under-21s.

Gomes could person represented Portugal aliases Angola but opted for nan state of his commencement and helped England triumph nan Under-17 World Cup successful 2017, alongside Phil Foden, Marc Guehi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Another trophy followed past year, pinch Gomes playing successful near midfield successful nan 1-0 triumph complete Spain successful nan last of nan European Under-21 Championship successful an English broadside that besides included Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon and Emile Smith Rowe.

"Angel is astir apt different to a batch of what we would person seen successful nan past, successful position of a cardinal midfielder being a batch much beingness and robust," said Carsley connected Thursday erstwhile announcing his squad.

"He's a batch much of a method subordinate - he controls nan crippled pinch his technique. Looking astatine nan squad, I've worked pinch nan mostly of them from erstwhile I was an adjunct pinch nan under-21s earlier aliases presently worked pinch them.

"The players that person been called up for their first caps are really breathtaking players. I was very proud to congratulate them and they afloat merit nan chances they're going to get."

It has been an different way to nan apical for Gomes, but now is his chance to show nan England fans what he is tin of.