Anthony Gordon has heaped praise on England teammate Marc Guehi amid reports of Newcastle’s interest in the defender.
Guehi impressed for Crystal Palace last season and saw his form rewarded with a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Injury to Harry Maguire saw the 23-year-old handed his chance alongside John Stones in the heart of the England defence for the Three Lions’ opening clash with Serbia, and he produced a superb display in the 1-0 victory.
Gordon, who was an unused substitute for Sunday’s Group C clash, was quick to praise Guehi’s major international tournament debut.
And he also admitted he would welcome the centre-back to St James’ Park this summer.
“He’s top, he’s such a good player and I was glad the nation got to see him shine on that stage because he’s such a lovely guy and he deserves what’s coming to him,” Gordon said in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT’s England correspondent Faye Carruthers.
“I thought he was unbelievable in that game [vs Serbia] considering his height compared to the strikers they had on.
“He won every header, he was aggressive, intercepting loads and his main strength is composure on the ball, he’s like a midfielder.
“So him and Stonesy at the back, it’s a great partnership to control a game.”
On the speculation over a potential switch to Tyneside, Gordon added: “I haven’t actually seen the Newcastle links, but it goes without saying I’d absolutely love him to come because he’s a top player and he’d make us a better team.”
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Much has been made of a new-look England midfield consisting of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was handed a more advanced role for the Serbia game.
While the Liverpool star stepped up into midfield on a few occasions last season, he has played the vast majority of his career at right-back, but his composure and passing ability saw Southgate opt to play him in midfield.
The jury is still out on where Alexander-Arnold best fits into the England starting XI, but what can not be doubted is his blossoming friendship with Bellingham.
And Gordon believes their relationship will help the pair, and England, on the pitch.
“They get on really well,” Gordon revealed. “They are always together – breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a good relationship and obviously it’s helping because Trent is going into the midfield.
“It benefits Jude because they are friends, they can help each other through it and Trent’s new to the position, so he’s going to need Jude’s help sometimes.”
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But the Newcastle winger harbours ambitions of his own at Euro 2024, starting with a first appearance at a major championships.
Phil Foden was handed the left-sided berth against Serbia, a position Gordon occupies at club level.
However, Foden’s insistence to take up central positions left England with space out wide, leaving Gordon thinking about what might have been had he been on the pitch.
“I think regardless of how the game was going I would have felt like that anyway,” Gordon said of his experience watching from the bench. “That was the game plan because it suits Phil to come in. So we’re naturally not going to have width on that side.
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“Tripps [Kieran Trippier] is not a left-back so he’s obviously going to be a bit more defensive than Luke [Shaw] would, he’d be pushing on.
“We’re playing to players strengths, there’s no point playing Phil wide left because that’s not his game, he’s better in the pockets where he can control the game and create from central areas.
“I was chomping at the bit to get on but it’s alright, we won the game and that’s the important thing.”
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