ENGLAND ace Anthony Gordon gave fans an injury fright yesterday after a high-speed fall off an e-bike.
Gordon may have got his brakes mixed up when he tumbled from his e-bike, one of his team-mates said yesterday.
The 23-year-old was at training yesterday sporting nasty injuries to his face, hands and leg following a high-speed crash during an England “recovery” session on Wednesday.
The evening before, Gordon was a rare positive as a late substitute in the bore draw with Slovenia, leading to calls for him to start against Slovakia on Sunday.
Defender Ezri Konsa was among the players who went zipping around the team’s stunning base in Blankenhain, eastern Germany — and confessed to laughing when he saw Gordon lying bleeding on the ground.
The Aston Villa star, 26, said: “It was a recovery session, some players were out in front and as I was coming down the hill I saw Ant and he was lying there with his face bloodied, hands and chin and I just started laughing! At least he wore his helmet. That’s the main thing.”
Ezri said he had “never been on a bike like it”, adding: “It’s weird – you can pick up some speed.
“It’s got a turbo button, so you press the turbo button and as you pedal it just goes quick.
“It must have been a bad fall.
“I think he pressed the wrong brake because back in England the brakes are on different sides, so the left is the back.
“I think he pressed the left and it was the front and he just took off!
“He’s fine. He’s doing well. I think that will be the last time we go on the bike!”
Gordon appeared in good spirits during training yesterday at the squad’s camp, despite a deep graze on his chin plus another on his nose as well as injuries to his hands and a scuffed knee.
Centre-back Marc Guehi said: “I saw that massive gash on his chin but he’s OK – he just fell off his bike. It’s been a bit of a joke in camp.”
Gordon’s pace and trickery opened up the Slovenia defence at the end of Tuesday’s goalless yawnfest — laying on one of England’s best chances, only for Cole Palmer to fire at the keeper.
The Newcastle United star is expected to be fit for Sunday’s crunch last-16 clash in Gelsenkirchen.
An England source said: “Anthony was out with other players on the e-bikes they use during recovery after games and came a cropper.
“It was quite a bump but thankfully he’s OK and the injuries won’t affect his match fitness at all. He will definitely be available for selection.”
Manager Gareth Southgate — who had plastic beer cups thrown at him by angry fans on Tuesday — was also boosted by the expected return of left-back Luke Shaw, who has been out injured since February.
Asked when he would come back into the England team, the Manchester United star declared firmly yesterday: “Next game.”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
