Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has revealed the “psychological toll” his 2020 injury took on his career and how his return to the England set-up four years later finally “closed that chapter”.
The 26-year-old suffered a season-ending knee problem during a training session in November 2020 that required surgery and began a prolonged absence from the international set-up that ended last week with his call-up for the friendlies against Brazil. and Belgium later this month.
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Gomez has steadily rebuilt his career and has made 41 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
After training with the England team for the first time since his injury on Tuesday, Gomez spoke at St George's Park a day later.
“I'd be lying if I said it didn't take a psychological toll,” he said.
“I left the training ground abruptly in an ambulance. It meant a lot to me. Even yesterday, while I was warming up. It was nice to feel like I could close that chapter, not be too dramatic.
“Everyone gets injured, it's part of the game, but it was so sudden, the way it happened, just leaving and never having a chance to come back was hard to deal with. It's meant a lot to be in the mix.” , being with the kids and closing that chapter for me personally.
“At the time, I was probably about 22 years old and after being away for so long, naturally everyone ages, you get a different view and perspective. I appreciate that side of the journey and I can use it to understand that there is a lot going on.
“Obviously it's a great privilege and it comes with its pressures, playing for England. But also understanding that you have to be grateful to be here. You don't have to be here. It's a great privilege.
“Gareth has been good to me. I was with Gareth throughout the [under] 21 and chose me for my debut. It was nice to be reunited with him and get back to doing what I'm supposed to do. Gareth is great in that sense on an individual level, he keeps in touch and talks to the players.”
Gómez also received fervent support from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who used an interview after the 1-1 draw with Manchester City to beg Southgate to choose the centre-back: “Joe Gómez, Gareth, honestly.”
“Obviously I didn't see it live,” Gomez said of that incident. “The coach of the club is the coach. He is unique and I obviously owe him a lot. The biggest influence on my career, without a doubt.
“It's nice to have that support from the coach. I definitely didn't ask him to do it! But obviously he's been a big influence on me, not only as a player but as a person. That was nice.”
Gomez added that his target was a trophy-winning farewell for Klopp and a place in Southgate's final 23-man squad for Euro 2024.
“Yes, that's the goal,” he said. “No matter the season, the fact that the coach announces his departure influences things and the general vision of the rest of the season, but it was always the same, the application will not have changed.
“You want to win every game, I suppose all footballers do and that will not have changed since he signed his renewal until he said he was leaving.
“We obviously appreciate it enormously, but nothing has changed: everyone wants to do well and that can only be achieved taking one at a time. You can't look past that. It's highly competitive and it's not going to be easy.” But all we can do is focus on what's to come.”
