"I think it [my direct style] brings a sense of unpredictability. I draw a lot of fouls and it can put teams on the back foot and that’s how I play football. That works for me, that’s the way I feel best playing. I know how hard I am to play against, I can feel it, I know they don’t like playing against me and I’m going to carry on doing it."

The message was ruled to be a pointed message at his manager, and Southgate reportedly did not take kindly to the ‘play me’ plea, thus opting for alternative options off of the bench for the remainder of the tournament.

Interim England boss Lee Carsley has since shown what England missed out on by leaving Gordon as an unused substitute, starting the winger against the Republic of Ireland over the weekend in the Nations League.