- Anthony Gordon received a bicycle helmet and a pair of training wheels as a gift on Friday
- The England winger cut his arms and face in a cycling accident two days earlier
- Listen to It’s all about to begin! EURO DAILY: All reasons why England fans should be positive heading into the last 16
England star Anthony Gordon was hilariously presented with a bicycle helmet and a pair of training wheels by Mail Sport photographer Kevin Quigley on Friday after the winger was killed in an accident in Germany earlier this week.
Gordon, who accepted the offer in good spirits, then explained how what had started as a “recovery bike ride” ended with his hands and face covered in cuts and scrapes.
At an official England press conference on Friday afternoon, two days after falling from his electric bike while circling the team’s training base in Blankenhain, Gordon still suffered a significant abrasion on his chin as he addressed the media.
But the 23-year-old Newcastle winger – who trained with his teammates earlier on Friday – also had a big smile on his face.
In response to the first question of the day, which was of course about his two-wheeler accident, Gordon said he lost control of his car while trying to make a video for his family.
Anthony Gordon got some training wheels for Friday’s press conference
The gift came from Mail Sport photographer Kevin Quigley (right) from Blankenhain, Germany
Quigley also gave Gordon a helmet following the England winger’s crash earlier in the week
Gordon appeared cheerful and was seen grinning during the press conference
Gordon blamed the crash on his inexperience with non-British bikes, after accidentally pressing the front brake, thinking it was the rear.
“We went on what was supposed to be a recovery bike ride,” said a grinning Gordon. “It was a beautiful day and I went down a hill.
‘I wanted to make a quick video for my family to show what I was doing, but before I knew it I was face down on the floor.
“I have a few scrapes and a few cuts, but it doesn’t hurt.”
He added: ‘They’re electric, so they’re obviously a lot faster than normal bikes. And in England the front brake is on the right. So I tried to press the left brake just to slow down and then the next minute… he hadn’t slowed down, he had come to a complete stop, and I hadn’t. I was 10 feet in the air, chin first.’
Gordon posed for a photo with his training wheels and later vowed he would never stop cycling
The 23-year-old Newcastle star’s nose and chin were both covered in cuts and abrasions on Friday
After accepting his gift from photographer Quigley, Gordon defeated Mail Sport journalist Nik Simon in a quick game of darts
Gordon insisted the injuries he sustained in his fall were superficial and that he was still fully fit.
Gordon talked about what happened immediately after the crash: ‘I just kept going. I finished the bike ride and when I got back to camp I had to put on the stuff that really stung, that was the worst.
‘But luckily no one saw me and I certainly didn’t press the record button, so it did have some positive results.’
Shortly after receiving his gift from Quigley, Gordon defeated Mail Sports reporter Nik Simon in a quick game of darts.
Gordon – who has vowed to continue cycling despite his recent fall – will now hope to take part in a much more important match on Sunday by getting his first meaningful minutes of the European Championship when England take on Slovakia in the last 16.
He was an unused substitute in England’s first two games of the tournament before coming on for five minutes at the end of the 0-0 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday.
Gordon trained with his England teammates shortly before Friday’s press conference
The 23-year-old has looked sharp in training and will hope to get some game time on Sunday
Gordon made his European Championship debut as a substitute against Slovenia, replacing Phil Foden (right)
Phil Foden was the player who brought on Gordon in the dying seconds of the deadlock and the Manchester City star later returned to England to welcome the birth of his third child.
However, Foden has now flown back to Germany and can start against Slovakia on Sunday.