Spain vs England: If Joe Gomez performs, it will be step in the right direction for Gareth Southgate

Harry Winks will be the centre of attention on Monday, but Joe Gomez’s performance may be more crucial to the development of Gareth Southgate’s side.

Winks and Gomez have their chance to shine because Jordan Henderson and John Stones are suspended. Neither of these youngsters is ready to play at the highest level — and Luis Enrique’s team are one of the world’s best — but both have time on their side. Southgate needs to look beyond Spain and towards Euro 2020. Trusting youth has brought the England boss success and plaudits but blooding inexperienced players can only take a team so far. He needs to be more creative in deploying his personnel.

Creativity is a problem. Henderson is a willing worker but his distribution is frequently disappointing. Eric Dier is more effective supplementing the defence than sparking attacks. England’s engine room is predictable and often wasteful. The middle of the park is the place where matches are won and lost.

Southgate’s men are at their best when the pattern of play is ragged and rapid. Teams like Spain can take the sting out of teams, slow it down and keep the ball. When this happens, Henderson, Dier and the likes of Ross Barkley are found wanting. Barkley has everything a thrusting, up-and-down midfielder needs except for one thing: a football brain. Players who make bad decisions on the ball do not win many England caps.

Winks is different. He is a clever operator. The 22-year-old is more fluid than many of his peers when receiving possession. He shapes his body ready to knock the ball forward and release a pass upfield. His game is more about touch and precision than physicality.

Southgate wants to play out from the back but England’s momentum often stalls in midfield. Winks takes fewer touches than the other midfielders and has a sharper eye for the forward ball.

Gomez, 21, has blossomed at Liverpool alongside Virgil van Dijk. He is elegant, composed and has huge potential. He will undoubtedly suffer growing pains as his partnership with Harry Maguire develops, but if the pair can gel, the upside for England is massive.

Stones could be the answer to Southgate’s midfield issues. The 24-year-old is confident on the ball and has a wider passing range than Dier. He is at least as mobile as the Spurs man and would be more effective if England needed to switch from a back four to a five. Let us be clear: Stones is not the Barnsley Beckenbauer. He does, however, have more potential than Dier, whose progression has plateaued in the past two years.

At the moment, England are at their most dynamic on the counter-attack. To make the next step they need to learn to kill games by keeping the ball.

If Gomez grows into the role, it will allow Southgate to explore a number of options. With the right players around him, Winks will thrive. Southgate needs to be bold. If Winks and Gomez are a success on Monday, the England manager will have much more flexibility.