Joe Gomez shares 'gruesome' details of injury that threatened to derail his career

Liverpool's Joe Gomez has opened up about the harrowing injury that nearly derailed his career, expressing relief as he returns to the Three Lions squad after nearly four years.

It was in November 2020, during a routine training session with the England squad, that Gomez suffered a freak severe injury to the tendons in his knee.

The aftermath of the incident led to a gruelling 10-month recovery period that ruled him out of action for both club and country.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, the 26-year-old described the injury as "gruesome" and emphasised his gratitude for being able to move on and regain his spot in the England squad after such a prolonged absence.

Kneecap 'halfway up my leg'

Speaking ahead of England's forthcoming fixture against Brazil at Wembley on Saturday, Gomez described the fateful moment: "We were doing an 11-versus-11 when I got the injury.

"It was unique, a patella tendon rupture. I was by myself. I just went to play a pass, I planted my foot and then it ruptured. It was quite gruesome.

"My knee cap was halfway up my leg and a lot of it was a blur because it was a bit painful."

Psychological toll

Gomez further revealed the psychological toll the injury took on him, recalling the surreal experience of leaving the training ground in an ambulance.

"The last time I saw Gareth [Southgate] I was on a bed waiting for the ambulance. From the outside looking in, nobody would realise but it [returning to England training] was a bit surreal," he said.

Despite the challenges he faced, Gomez expressed his readiness to close that chapter of his career and focus on the opportunities ahead. "I prepared myself mentally to [come back] but I think, naturally, there was a bit of an underlying trauma that I can draw a line under," he admitted.

With his return to the England squad for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, Gomez aims to continue his impressive club form and stake a claim for a spot in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad.