Anthony Gordon is not England’s Lamine Yamal – but Barcelona’s newest star deserves to be one of Thomas Tuchel’s untouchables

Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze can play on that side, but they’re not specialist wide men like Gordon. Noni Madueke, meanwhile, is better cutting in from the right, Jack Grealish has a long way to go to get back in the international picture after a long spell out injured, and Liverpool wonderkid Rio Ngumoha is still learning his trade at 18.

That leaves Marcus Rashford as Gordon’s main rival for a starting role. Tuchel leaned more towards Gordon at the World Cup, and the gap between the two men looks gargantuan after Rashford pulled out of the latest international break with a knock.

It feels like Gordon is only just hitting his peak, while Rashford’s appears to be over. The Manchester United man got back into the England squad on the strength of a fine season on loan at Barca, but has been completely ineffective since returning to Old Trafford.

Rashford can match Gordon for pace, but his end product is far more erratic, and he doesn’t put in the same effort out of possession. That’s why Barca paid a premium for Gordon, instead of making Rashford’s move permanent for just £30m ($40m), as Deco has hinted publicly.

“He contributed a lot last season, but our idea of play is much more linked to Anthony,” the Barca sporting director said last month. “One of the areas we struggled last season, without Raphinha, was that the team’s energy dropped. It was lost. We needed more intensity.”

Gordon completes more dribbles than Rashford, wins more duels and fouls, and converts chances at a higher rate. Rashford can still manufacture openings out of nothing, but his execution is often poor. In more physical games, he shrinks into anonymity, while Gordon seems to relish a good battle, and he’s more of a team player.

A back-up role is all Tuchel will be able to offer Rashford on that basis, unless he undergoes a miraculous transformation at United in the coming weeks and months.