Southgate to bring Sterling back from brief exile as Gomez ruled out

Gareth Southgate is set to bring Raheem Sterling back from his brief England exile in Sunday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Kosovo as he seeks to end the controversy over the Manchester City star’s row with Joe Gomez.

Sterling was dropped for Thursday’s 7-0 rout of Montenegro after clashing with England team-mate Gomez in the Three Lions’ training base canteen.

It is believed Sterling was unhappy with Gomez following an altercation with the Liverpool defender during City’s Premier League defeat at Anfield last weekend.

Although Sterling was left out of the Montenegro game as punishment for his attack on Gomez, Southgate has confirmed the winger will return for England’s final Group A fixture.

Sterling and Gomez, left with a scratch under his eye after the incident, are said to have patched up their relationship, but the centre-back was jeered by England fans at Wembley when he came on as a substitute against Montenegro.

Both Southgate and Sterling expressed their support for Gomez and criticised the booing supporters, with the England manager reportedly comforting the shocked 22-year-old and his family after the match.

Liverpool pair Jordan Henderson and defender Gomez will miss Sunday’s Euro 2020 qualifier at Kosovo due to illness and injury, the Football Association (FA) said on Saturday.

Henderson, who is yet to completely recover from a viral infection, had missed Thursday’s 7-0 victory over Montenegro at Wembley as Gareth Southgate’s side booked their place in the finals of the competition as Group A winners.

His Liverpool team-mate Gomez misses the trip to Kosovo after sustaining a knee injury in training on Friday.

“Henderson arrived in camp with a viral infection that has not fully cleared... Gomez sustained a knock in training and has not recovered sufficiently enough to travel,” the FA said in a statement here

Now Southgate could include Gomez against Kosovo in a show of support for the Liverpool player.

With England already guaranteed to qualify for Euro 2020 in first place in their group, Southgate already planned to make changes, although he is keen to ensure England finish with a win as they eye a top-six seeding in next year’s tournament.

“We will make some changes, for sure, but the seeding in the group could be critical and we know it’s a big night for the Kosovans,” Southgate said.

“It’s a shame for them that they’re now out of this part of the qualification, although they’ve still got the play-offs in which I think they’ll be a huge threat in that format.

“So, it will be a good test for us because it will still be a lively environment.

“The enthusiasm for the game is high and we want to finish the group with as many points as we can.”

Harry Kane may have scored a hat-trick against Montenegro but it was Leicester’s Chilwell who was named England’s man of the match following a fine display in which he provided three assists in the opening 24 minutes. “Ben, I liked the hunger in his game, the enthusiasm to get forward,” Southgate said.

“The whole team pressed well but he also pressed well from that full-back position, got into overlaps, his quality of delivery was excellent.”

Kosovo still hopes to reach a first European finals at Euro 2020 but has laid on the warmest of welcomes for England, their opponents on the pitch on Sunday but hailed as an ally over its role in the 1990s independence war.

After a 2-1 defeat against Czech Republic on Thursday, the newcomer on the European football scene can no longer qualify for the tournament through the group stage.

However, Kosovo will be in the play-offs next March having progressed through the Nations League, so the dream of reaching its first major tournament finals is still alive.

Sunday’s match has little significance but nevertheless authorities and fans in the former Serbian province are gearing up to welcome their visitors.

Banners throughout the capital Pristina proclaim “Welcome and Respect” for England in a territory where a number of young people are named after Tony Blair in a tribute to the former British prime minister.

“Thanks to you we now play against you! Forever grateful to you our beloved England!” read another banner in Pristina.

Agencies