Anthony Gordon admits he was lucky to escape with just grazes after being thrown ’10 feet in the air’ on his electric bike… and vows to celebrate with the stabilisers Mail Sport gave him if he scores against Slovakia

Anthony Gordon says the injuries he sustained when he was thrown ’10ft into the air’ from his bike could have been a lot worse – and has vowed to celebrate with the stabilisers given to him by Mail Sport if he scores on Sunday.

The England winger was lucky enough to go over the handlebars of his electric bike at the team’s base in Blankenhain this week.

Gordon has abrasions on his chin, legs, arms and hands, but he can play in the round of 16 against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.

The 23-year-old saw the funny side when we gave him stabilisers and a crash helmet on Friday, but he admits he was very lucky.

“I could have (been seriously injured) because of the speed I was going down a hill,” Gordon said.

‘I could have ended up anywhere. It was on the golf course and I managed to land on the only patch of gravel there was. I was surrounded by grass and managed to land on the gravel. So I’m really lucky in some cases and unlucky in others.’

Anthony Gordon received a pair of bicycle stabilizers on Friday before a press conference

The gift, which the England winger promises to use as part of his celebrations if he scores against Slovakia on Sunday, came from Mail Sport photographer Kevin Quigley (right)

He added: ‘We went on what was supposed to be a recovery bike ride. It was a beautiful day. I was walking down a hill and trying to get a quick video for my family, just to show them what I was doing. Before I knew it, I was headfirst into the floor.

‘They’re electric so they’re faster than normal bikes and in England the front brake is on the right side. Here I tried to press the left (brake) just to slow down and the next minute it hadn’t slowed down, it had come to a complete stop… and I hadn’t! I went 10 feet up in the air, chin first!

“The thing was, because I was on my phone, I didn’t know I was going to fall until I hit the ground. I was just focused on my phone. I guess the moral of the story is that we spend too much time on our phones these days, just enjoy the moment without your phone!”

What did Gareth Southgate think?

“He laughed at first, just like everyone else,” Gordon said. ‘It was a bit of a joke. It wasn’t that serious, just a few scratches. But I’ll get back to it, I won’t let it distract me. It was a wonderful day, I only ruined it for myself!’

Gordon is likely to start from the bench on Sunday, despite his high-profile cameo in Tuesday’s draw against Slovenia. Will there be a cycling-themed party if he finds the net? “I’ll put the stabilisers on the side of the pitch so you all get the credit for the party,” he laughed. “I’ll do it. You have my word.”

There has been a lot of interest among the media and England fans to see Gordon as a regular starter, with the player believing his quick and direct style of play can help the team.

“I know I’m a nightmare for everyone I play against,” he said. ‘I am positive. Every time I get the ball I always try to make something happen. I’m not a very safe player, I always go for it and try to put people behind.

The 23-year-old has looked sharp in training and will hope to get some game time on Sunday

‘With players we have – like H (Harry Kane), who likes to go deep – I think I bring a different element to the team. It (my style) brings a sense of unpredictability. I know how difficult it is to play against me, I feel it.

‘I want to play. I want to perform on the biggest stage. That comes from my self-confidence. I feel like I can influence every match in a positive way. I’m doing my best to cause a headache for the selection and that’s all I can do. The rest is beyond my control.”

Finding stabilizers was not that easy! says Nik Simon

Most bicycle shops in Erfurt do not sell training wheels. German parents, they say, prefer to throw their children into the deep end by sending their loved one off on two wheels.

So it was a welcome relief when Mail Sport photographer Kevin Quigley and I came across a set of 16-18 inch training wheels in the Decathlon store on the outskirts of Erfurt on Friday morning.

We were entered for the usual player-versus-media darts competition in England, which takes place before each media session at the team’s quiet base in the German countryside.

After accepting his gift from photographer Quigley, Gordon defeated Mail Sport journalist Nik Simon in a quick game of darts at England’s Euro 2024 headquarters in Blankenhain, Germany

Gordon had trained with his England teammates shortly before Friday’s press conference

Anthony Gordon was the latest star to be nominated for the challenge and after his bike ride crash this week, this seemed like the perfect time to make a few jokes about him.

His palms were too soft for a proper handshake, but the good-humored striker cheerfully accepted Quigley’s £17.99 stabilizers and £32.99 bike helmet.

“I keep these near the field and take them out to celebrate when I score,” Gordon joked, as teammate Cole Palmer poked his head around the corner with a wide grin.

Unfortunately for me Gordon’s darts were better than his cycling and he beat me handily. Let’s hope he can keep up the winning streak against Slovakia this weekend!