Manchester United academy graduate Angel Gomes has been a hot topic of late.
The player who made his Manchester United debut at 16 was a player who many thought would end up having a Kobbie Mainoo-esque stratospheric rise.
Angel Gomes never quite enjoyed the chances at a first-team role he wanted, and therefore he soon bet on himself and departed United when his contract expired.
The Englishman signed for Lille who have a track record of developing youth and United signed Leny Yoro from there this summer.
Gomes’ career has now truly taken off, with a full debut for England and now links with a Premier League return.
Paul Scholes has now had his say on the rising 24-year-old.
Paul Scholes reacts to full Angel Gomes debut
On Tuesday, Lee Carsley named Gomes in his starting line-up for England’s game against Finland.
The former United academy star was one of the best players on the park in a double pivot alongside Declan Rice.
On the latest Stick to Football episode, Gary Neville has asked Scholes his verdict on the midfielder and whether he can fix England’s possessions problems. In the process, he listed two things he really likes about Gomes’ game.
“Gomes? Oh, Angel Gomes. Tough question Gaz, I like him yeah it was safe wasn’t it, technically good, he ticks the game over of course he does.”
Scholes is spot on, Gomes did keep things simple and he well and truly ran the game for the Three Lions.
Gomes completed 116 passes out of 123 attempts and 130 touches of the football which saw him dispossessed just once.
Three out of four long balls were completed accurately along with 17 passes into the final third.
Quite surprisingly in the game Gomes also contributed quite effectively despite his diminutive stature.
Gomes won two tackles from two, made six defensive actions and five recoveries along with winning four out of eight duels he contested.
A return to Manchester United would be relished
Ever since Gomes was announced in the United squad, there have been quiet links of a possible return to the Premier League.
But would a move to Old Trafford be on the cards? Well Gomes himself would certainly be open to it as he told L’Equipe last year during an interview.
“Do I imagine myself coming back one day? Obviously, it’s home. I would love to come back. But you never know in football.
“I just have to keep my feet on the ground, and keep playing, making the most of it. I can’t predict what will happen in the future.”
The good news for Gomes is that the role he plays is one Manchester United may soon need to strengthen – with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen unlikely to go beyond this season with the club.
Question marks can be raised about his physicality and whether he would be able to cope in the Premier League against mammoth midfielders like Amadou Onana.
That being said, the prospect of a potential midfield three of Gomes, Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
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