A winger's masterclass: Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen

From key skills to biggest strengths and areas for improvement, England’s Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen break down the art of being a winger.

The Three Lions duo offer some top tips on different aspects of their game and insight into the position.

What are the key skills you need as a winger at the elite level now?

AG: The ability to stay in the game, regardless of how you're playing. You need to be able to be having a bad game and still affect the end result, so if I'm having a bad game, I need to mentally stay in the moment, to be able to take a chance because that one chance can decide the whole game. That's the biggest thing because as a winger, you’re wide and high and you're reliant on everybody else to get you the ball with quality. Sometimes they can't do that, so you have to be mentally patient, wait for the best moment and then you have to take it.

JB: Having the ability to be strong with both feet. Everyone's always got a weaker foot, but I think you can work on it a lot. I think end products for a winger is probably the most important thing, getting the right cross into the box for your striker and yourself having the right finishes because, for a winger, that's probably what you’re judged on.

How has the position evolved over time?

AG: Everything evolves in football. Football is a massive cycle. Wingers used to just touch and cross, then they were always in the pockets and now, they're kind of a mix. Soon, it'll go back to touch and cross. You've got to make the position yours in your own way. You've got to play to your strengths. If you've got a great cross, you want to just touch and cross. If you're a good one-v-one player, you want to show your skills and be direct, so choose whatever suits you.

JB: A long time ago, left-footed wingers played on the left and right footed-wingers played on the right and stayed wide and beat your man that way. Now it's evolved a little bit where you're playing opposite sides – I play off the right and I'm left footed, so it's changed in that way but I still think the principal should be the same as a winger. You still want to beat your man at every given moment. You might give the ball away a few times, but I think as a winger, you have to try and beat your man every time you get the ball.

What is your biggest strength in this position?

AG: I would say my directness. I don't play with fear. I go and go and go. It doesn’t matter how many times I lose the ball, I will attack. I'm a very fearless player. I will defend fearlessly, as well, so I think I'm a tough match-up through those traits.

JB: I'm quite direct in my play. Like I said, I'll lose the ball which can happen in football but if you don't try, I don't think you'll ever succeed. You've got to make those mistakes to try and beat your man because the one time you do beat your man, you're scoring or getting an assist.

What is an area that is your biggest focus for improvement?

AG: Scoring goals, which I’ve succeeded at so far. It’s been a good year for me, scoring goals – it’s my highest level – but I’m always looking to add. I think when you're talking about improving, there's no better trait you can improve on as a forward than scoring goals. That’s what you’re judged on. I can play an amazing game but if I don't score, no one really cares.

JB: Probably my weaker foot. It’s something that ever since my Hull City days I've been trying to work on and trying to improve because like I said, when you play off the right, people know that you want to cut in on your left, so I think you have to adapt to the game to be able to go both ways. That's one thing that I'm still working on now.

What are some of the biggest challenges that full-backs give you now?

AG: The athleticism. Everyone's so fast and strong now that it can make it hard. Even if you beat them, they're recovering well and they’re getting back and they run at you again. It's definitely getting harder, the more athletic people get.

JB: Full-backs can offer lots of different challenges. Positionally, if they're really good, I like to run in behind. If you get the ball to feet, and they're really tight, that can sometimes be something you have to work on as a winger to have that contact with the ball so the defender doesn't push you off. I also think a full-back that wants to bomb on a lot and wants to get forward is always a headache because you know you have to track back all the way and you want to be attacking every time you can. Of course, there's lots of good full-backs out there that want to get forward and hurt you going the other way so you have to do the defensive work on that side of it.

Who is the toughest opponent you’ve faced at full-back?

AG: I'll probably go either [Achraf] Hakimi or Kyle Walker. It's very different because Kyle’s so physical and so fast, it makes it really difficult for you. Hakimi’s so good on the ball. You make one mistake and as I said before, you can decide the game.

JB: I always said João Cancelo when he was at Manhester City. He was always so good because technically, he was really, really good and got in some dangerous areas. Both feet were really strong and he had a good turn of pace and defensively, I thought he was really good as well. I always had a tough time playing against him – he’d always give me a good challenge.

Which is your best match as a winger for England?

AG: I would probably say either Latvia, which is one of the more recent games, or Wales which was the game before that. I feel like I've got stronger with every England performance, which I always knew I would because it takes me a while to settle into somewhere and then try to make it my own. I feel like I'm doing that now – you see a true version of me and true performances. I think the recent two have been the best.

JB: I’d probably say that Ireland game just because it was my first goal. That was a special moment. It wasn't anything to do with being a winger positionally, it was from a set piece actually, and tucking it away the way I did. I think the first goal is always going to be your favourite.