- Gomez left training in an ambulance after suffering a bizarre knee injury in 2020
- He said there was an ‘underlying trauma’ upon his return to the Three Lions camp
- Did Manchester United derail Liverpool’s season? Listen to the It all starts podcast
The memories came flooding back for Joe Gomez. The pain. The woe. The sight of his kneecap halfway down his thigh.
When England manager Gareth Southgate handed the Liverpool defender his first call-up in four years last week, Gomez knew it was coming.
It was as if he was returning to the scene of the crime. Because the last time Gomez was at St George’s Park on international duty, he left in an ambulance after suffering a bizarre knee injury in training.
So when he stepped onto the same training ground, you could forgive the versatile defender for getting a little emotional.
“It’s surreal, just because four years is quite a long time and I spent a good chunk of that wanting to be back in the mix,” Gomez explained.
Joe Gomez has opened up about his return to St George’s Park, four years after his bizarre injury
Gomez has received his first England call-up since leaving the training ground in an ambulance
His good form at Liverpool has earned him a return to international football under Southgate
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‘I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take a psychological toll as I left here quite abruptly in an ambulance. It means a lot to me.
‘I prepared myself, but I think there was of course an underlying trauma that I can now draw a line under.
“Just doing the warm-up, it was nice to feel like I could close that chapter without being too dramatic.
“Everyone gets injured, that’s part of the game, but because it happened so suddenly it was difficult to never deal with it. So it meant a lot to be in the mix, be with the guys and close that chapter. I remember I was just about to play a pass. I planted my foot and then it tore, it was pretty horrific. My kneecap was halfway up my leg.
“A lot of it is blurry because it was a little painful.
‘From that moment on it was a big part of my life, probably the most difficult point in my career, just that moment because of the way it happened.
‘The last time I saw Gareth I was lying in bed waiting for the ambulance. It was tough and it’s a big part of my journey that I don’t shy away from.
“I moved past it and a big part of my application and my motivation comes from working during that period to get back. I don’t want to lose that, because it has shaped me into who I am.’
He said the last time he saw Southgate (right) was when he was waiting for an ambulance
Gomez is in great form for Liverpool, who could still end the season with three trophies.
But it is not the only international setback from which he has had to recover. In 2019, the defender was booed by England supporters during a match against Montenegro, days after his infamous confrontation with Raheem Sterling in the St George’s Park canteen.
Sterling was England’s golden boy at the time but has once again been left out of the England squad after an indifferent run of form for Chelsea.
Gomez added, “It was testing. You never want this to happen in front of your own audience. It was a scenario I have long moved past.
He said there was ‘an underlying trauma’ when he returned to camp in England this week
Gomez also started after being booed by his own supporters against Montenegro following a clash with Raheem Sterling (left)
‘I understood it. I didn’t delve too deeply into it or let it consume me too much. I understood it. Of course it wasn’t great, I’d be lying if I said otherwise. But it is what it is. Part of football.
‘I’m looking forward to being in front of the fans and playing again. Wembley is such a special stadium, where cup finals are played and so on, every time is special.’
