Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Jordan Pickford and now Anthony Gordon. All have become guaranteed starters and reliable stars for England, with the Barcelona winger the latest to look, according to captain Kane, like one of the Three Lions' "main men". Gordon was one of England's standout players at the World Cup and earned a big-money move to European giants Barca in the summer, while his good form has continued into his country's Nations League campaign.
He scored the opening goal in England's 2-0 win against the Czech Republic on Tuesday night, after also netting in a 3-2 defeat by world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday. In fact, the 25-year-old's England form has been building since the knockout stage of the World Cup began - his run of averaging a goal contribution every 69 minutes started with assisting both Kane's efforts in a 2-1 last-32 victory over DR Congo. The former Newcastle player has scored three goals and provided three assists in his past six England matches, while he also won the penalty in England's dramatic last-16 victory over Mexico at Azteca Stadium.
And after a positive start in Spain, where he has already picked up five assists in La Liga, Gordon looks to be joining boss Thomas Tuchel's "undroppable" bracket. Tuchel likes to give his players clarity on their role and makes clear who they are up against in the squad and for a starting position. When asked whether Gordon is getting to be one of the first names on the team-sheet, he said: "He's getting there.
He's defending his shirt, he's defending his position - an excellent performance again after his performance against Spain. "He was very decisive [against the Czech Republic] and had an excellent goal. It was very, very difficult but the technique and finishing was excellent.
"He scored against Spain so he has decisive actions and he's defending his shirt and his position. He does it on the highest level and he's a very important player." Gordon linked up well with his former Newcastle team-mate Lewis Hall on England's left and combined with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was making his first start for the Three Lions in nearly two years, for the opening goal. Gordon said he had been "dying" to link up with Alexander-Arnold, who is also playing in Spain for Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid.
"It's a great compliment and it's great to play with him," Alexander-Arnold said of Gordon. "I tried to get the ball, and try and see what the best play is and try and play forward and create something. And I was able to get the pass." Captain and record goalscorer Kane is a guaranteed starter in England's biggest matches but the position to the left of Kane has been a problem area for the team, with no player able to make it their own.
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