Joe Gomez wanted England boss Gareth Southgate to keep Raheem Sterling with the Three Lions’ squad following the Liverpool and Manchester City stars’ fresh bust-up on Monday.
Gomez and Sterling clashed again at England’s St George’s Park training base as they met up with the squad to face Montenegro and Kosovo later this week.
Sterling provoked the Liverpool defender by asking him if he was “still the big man” after they had originally squared up during City’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Gomez was mystified by Sterling’s actions given the pair had appeared to make up following the full-time whistle at Anfield.
However, Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett claims the centre-back didn’t want Sterling cut out of England’s plans for their upcoming Euro 2020 qualifying matches.
“Understand #lfc Joe Gomez appealed to Gareth Southgate not to send #mcfc Raheem Sterling home, before the England manager made his decision to drop Sterling from the Montenegro game,” Dorsett tweeted.
England boss Gareth Southgate explained his decision to leave Sterling out of Thursday night’s showdown with Montenegro at Wembley.
“We have taken the decision to not consider Raheem for the match against Montenegro on Thursday,” Southgate said.
“One of the great challenges and strengths for us is that we’ve been able to separate club rivalries from the national team. Unfortunately the emotions of yesterday’s game were still raw.
“My feeling is that the right thing for the team is the action we have taken. Now that the decision has been made with the agreement of the entire squad, it’s important that we support the players and focus on Thursday night.”
Sterling, who apologised to Gomez and his England team-mates following Monday’s bust-up, has remained with the rest of Southgate’s squad at St George’s Park.
The Manchester City star may be in the mix to feature when England travel to Pristina for Sunday’s qualifying class against Kosovo.
