Creative skills of Conor Gallagher give Gareth Southgate and England food for thought

Midfielder played starring role in friendly win over Switzerland and has forced his way into manager's plans for World Cup

Harry Kane celebrates scoring England's winner in the 2-1 victory over Switzerland at Wembley. PA

Striker Breel Embolo heads Switzerland ahead at Wembley. AFP

Breel Embolo celebrates after scoring. AFP

England's Luke Shaw celebrates after levelling the scores. PA

Luke Shaw was thrilled to score. Getty

England striker Harry Kane scores the second goal from the penalty spot. AFP

Harry Kane celebrates scoring the second goal. Reuters

“Infectious” was the word Gareth Southgate used and it may be one of the few times in the last couple of years when it has been deployed as a compliment. Conor Gallagher’s maiden England start was notable for his energy and irrepressibility.

He showed a fearlessness and an enthusiasm. He seemed to relish the chance to play at Wembley for the first time. The Crystal Palace Gallagher, the endearingly relentless runner, turned up in his country’s colours.

He secured an assist, setting up Luke Shaw’s equaliser in Saturday’s win over Switzerland. It was a reminder that Gallagher, with eight goals and three assists, is one of the Premier League’s most productive midfielders: outside the top seven clubs and strikers, only Leeds winger Raphinha has been directly involved in more goals.

Gallagher’s creativity is reflected in another respect. He is creating Southgate the right sort of problems. Given England’s strength in depth, the manager could have persisted with the largely youthful group of progressive players who populated his Euro 2020 squad. But if Southgate tends to reward fine form and is rarely slow to blood emerging talent, there is also a sense that Gallagher has forced his way into his plans.

It isn’t merely the blond mop and all-action style that makes him impossible to ignore. His outstanding performance when Palace beat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in October was an illustration he can prosper against the best.

And yet, if Gallagher enhanced his chances of going to the World Cup, he was wise to sound cautious. “It would be amazing but it’s still a good few months away,” he said. “I just need to focus on my club football.” And his parent club is Chelsea. If they are shrouded in uncertainty, the formula that has brought Thomas Tuchel such success is 3-4-3. It calls for two central midfielders who provide a platform by operating largely behind the ball and who show more precision in possession than Gallagher.

With his off-the-ball running and willingness to get into the final third, he is scarcely a like-for-like alternative to Jorginho and N’Golo Kante. And while he has some similarities to Mason Mount, and could understudy a fellow Chelsea academy graduate in the England squad, he is less suited than Mount is to a role in Tuchel’s front three; in any case Chelsea have plenty of competition for places there.

Conor Gallagher, No 7, and Mason Mount, No 11, could be battling for the same spot in England's midfield. reuters

When England play 3-4-3, as they did in the final of Euro 2020, there is no logical berth for Gallagher. When they play 3-5-2, as they did on Saturday, it offers echoes of the 2018 World Cup. Mount and Gallagher took over the duties Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli had then.

Yet Switzerland’s first-half superiority was a reminder of how Croatia beat England in the World Cup semi-final, outnumbering Jordan Henderson in a midfield when his two colleagues could get too far upfield. Their strengths could also be England’s weaknesses. Southgate described Mount and Gallagher as “good at pressing and attacking No 8s.” Pressing led to Shaw’s goal but Gallagher has tended to excel for Palace in formations where he has had two more defensive-minded midfielders alongside him.

Southgate said England’s system left them a bit “vulnerable” and if that was exacerbated by the presence of a new-look back three. But given the importance of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips in Euro 2020, it suggests England require a more solid duo against high-class opponents. If the shape that suits Gallagher best could be 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, giving him licence to show his running power, it could set up a competition, between him and the Southgate favourite Mount for a solitary spot.

England 2 Switzerland 1: player ratings

ENGLAND RATINGS: Jordan Pickford 8 - Produced at least four good saves to keep England in the game in the first half; the pick of the bunch a reflex save that tipped the ball onto the cross bar from Silvan Widmer’s 10 yard shot. One of the Everton stopper’s most accomplished performances in an England shirt. PA

Ben White 5 - The Arsenal defender was thrust into the starting line-up at the last minute after John Stones picked up an injury in the warm up. Got caught ball watching when he lost Embolo for Switzerland’s opener. Distribution wasn’t great along with the rest of the England back four. Looked a bit more comfortable at right-back in the second half. AFP

Conor Coady 6 - Along with his fellow defenders, he didn’t move the ball quickly enough in the first half which contributed to England’s lack of fluidity in possession. Produced a good save from Omlin with a header in injury time. AFP

Marc Guehi 6 - A solid debut for the Crystal Palace defender. Took time to adjust to a lively Switzerland attack but settled into the game and looked more comfortable in a back four. AFP

Kyle Walker-Peters 6 - The 24-year-old debutant smashed the post after a lovely piece of play involving Mount and Foden, but the latter was offside in the build-up and it wouldn’t have counted. AFP

Jordan Henderson 6 - Failed to get a grip of the midfield in a first half that Switzerland dominated. Better second 45 from the Liverpool captain, more like him in terms of his energy and drive. Action Images

Conor Gallagher 7 - Almost curled one into the far corner early in the game when he checked back onto his left foot after some neat link up play from Foden, but Widmer headed over. Lovely lofted pass for Kane early in the second half to put the England skipper in on goal. Always positive and lively. One of the few England players with pass marks in the first half. AFP

Luke Shaw 6 - Failed to get close enough to stop Shaqiri’s cross for the goal, but made amends when he arrived at pace to fire a crisp, powerful strike for his second goal in three games, which was more than England deserved in a first half dominated by the Swiss. Getty

Phil Foden 5 - The Manchester City midfielder struggled to influence the game. Always a willing runner, and pressed well out of possession, but lacked the quality and end product on the night. AFP

Mason Mount 5 - Failed to make any impact. A couple of through balls almost found their target, but the Switzerland midfield swarmed around any time it looked like he had space. AFP

Harry Kane 6 - Held onto the ball far too long in the first half and made poor decisions in possession. Denied by the face of Omlin after being put in on goal from a lovely lofted pass from Gallagher. Scored his 49th goal from the penalty spot, smashing his spot kick low to Omlin’s right in the 78th minute with England benefiting from a handball by Zuber. AFP

SUBS: Declan Rice 6 – (Gallagher 61’) Immediately showed his class. His reading of the game and ability to snuff out attacks allowed England to play more on the front foot. Getty

Tyrick Mitchell 5 – (Shaw 62’). The Crystal Palace full-back put in an inviting cross for Kane midway through the second half and the striker should’ve done better. Tended to dive in when faced up in one-v-one situations. Reuters

Raheem Sterling 5 – (Walker-Peters 62’). Looked lively in the final third without really creating anything clear cut. AFP

Jack Grealish 5 – (Mount 62’). Tried to inject some energy into a lacklustre England performance. Reuters

Jude Bellingham N/A – (Foden 79’). AP

Ollie Watkins - N/A (Kane 89’) Getty

SWITZERLAND RATINGS: Jonas Omlin 7 - No chance with Shaw’s strike and didn’t have too much to do up until then. Had a busier second 45. Rushed from his goal to deny Kane with his face 7 minutes after half-time and made a solid stop from Coady’s header later on. AFP

Silvan Widmer 7 - Excellent recovery to deny Conor Gallagher wen the big defender headed over just as it looked like Gallagher’s curling effort was looping over Omlin into the far corner. Unfortunately had to be substituted after 37 minutes after taking a kick on his achilles from Foden earlier in the half. PA

Manuel Akanji 7 - The Borussia Dortmund defender dealt confidently with everything in the air and looked comfortable in possession. Didn’t give Kane much joy all night. AFP

Fabian Frei 7 - Smashed a half volley which Pickford reacted well and touched onto the bar to deny Switzerland doubling their lead three minutes after Switzerland’s opener. Good use of the ball, by breaking lines and stepping in to start attacks, however a poor clearance intercepted by Walker-Peters lead to England's equaliser in first half injury time. AFP

Ricardo Rodriguez 7 - Banged in a shot from the edge of the area in the first half that Pickford parried away and was always a threat in possession as he probed and tested the England back line. Getty

Remo Freuler 7 - Good energy and use of the ball in the Swiss midfield from the Atalanta midfielder. Didn’t give the England midfield any time in possession and always looked to play forward. AFP

Granit Xhaka 8 - Tested Pickford from range with a low left foot daisy cutter after 20 minutes which the England keeper stopped with a strong wrist. Always looked quality in possession, dictating the tempo when he had the ball. Was the best player on the park in the first half. EPA

Renato Steffen 6 - Looked to get in behind Luke Shaw and caused England concern in the first half. Linked well with Shaqiri. Action Images

Xherdan Shaqiri 8 - Produced a sublime cross for Switzerland’s opening goal when he curled a pinpoint delivery onto the head of Embolo who guided a header past Pickford into the far corner. Almost scored cheekily directly from a corner, the former Liverpool fans’ favourite looked like he enjoyed himself playing against his old skipper, Henderson, and he showed his quality all night. EPA

Ruben Vargas 7 - The young Augsberg winger wasn't afraid to be direct and got his side into good positions in the England half. Worked hard off the ball and stifled Walker-Peter’s attacking threat. AFP

Breel Embolo 8 - Peeled off Ben White and directed his header back across Pickford for Switzerland’s well worked opener in the 22 minute. Held the ball up well and allowed his side to play in the attacking third. Always a problem for the England defence. AFP

SUBS: Kevin Mbabu 7 – (Widmer 37’) Seamlessly settled in to the pace of the game. Defended well and surged forward at every opportunity, producing dangerous crosses in the second half. AFP

Andi Zeqiri 7 – (Steffen 62’) A lively addition to the Swiss attack. AP

Steven Zuber 6 – (Freuler 63’) Worked hard attempting to turn the tide when England started to get the upper hand. EPA

Djibril Sow 6 – (Vargas 63’) Kept possession well under pressure and and looked to drive with the ball when space opened up. Getty

Mario Gavranovic N/A - (Embolo 80’). EPA

Michel Aebischer N/A - (Shaqiri 80’). AFP