Paranoia is pushing Gordon to make sure of place at World Cup

ENGLAND winger Anthony Gordon says he is performing with a sense of paranoia to make sure he is on the plane to the World Cup.

- By JONATHAN VEAL

Anthony Gordon, James Trafford, Jordan Henderson and Dean Henderson take part in an England training session at St George's Park

Jude Bellingham's absence from Thomas Tuchel's squad for the friendly with Wales and next week's World Cup qualifier against Latvia shows that no one's position is safe.

Gordon has been a regular under Tuchel and impressed during last month's 5-0 win over Serbia, but the Newcastle man is not allowing himself to get carried away.

"At this level, you see the squad changing all the time, players coming in, players leaving," he said.

"I think you've almost got to be a bit paranoid that you're not going to get in because it pushes you even further.

"You've always got to challenge yourself because the lads you're competing with are always at the highest level because that's the level we're playing at.

"I never think I'm nailed in, but obviously it's a massive goal for me and one I'm pushing for.

"It's up to us as players to push ourselves as individuals and that ultimately challenges the next man in our position to do better again.

"Coincidentally, it's a World Cup year and everyone seems to be flying.