High on the agenda in Carsley’s pre-match chat to ITV was the inclusion of Gomes and Lewis in the starting XI. First, he was asked what the Lille midfielder will add.
“Hopefully he’ll bring control to the game. Hopefully he’ll dictate the play, he’ll find passes in forward areas and hopefully link the game well,” said the interim England manager. “It’s important that we don’t put too much pressure on him, he’s a young player making his (full) debut, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in him.”
Then, he was asked about Lewis filling in at left-back.
“We’ve got to be creative with the way we play,” he said. “It’s a role that he can play, a role that I’ve played him in before. We’ve got three or four options that we can tinker with and change, but he’s another player that I’ve got a lot of confidence and belief in.”
