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

“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