by While former Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham endured a torrid Champions League night with Real Madrid at Anfield, another Englishman building a reputation at the Bundesliga club was lighting up the competition.
Jamie Gittens has been one of the stars of the competition this season, with his fourth goal in five league matches helping Dortmund cruise to victory at Dinamo Zagreb.
It was also a goal of real beauty from the 20-year-old, cutting in from the left wing before shooting right-footed from 18 yards and finding the corner.
And it was an important goal, coming towards the end of a first half where Dortmund had dominated without breaking through and a few seconds after Zagreb goalkeeper Danijel Zagorac had brilliantly repelled Donyell Malen.
Thanks to Gittens, Dortmund were able to relax in a match they controlled and ultimately secured a 3-0 victory in Croatia.
It’s yet another calling card for the former Manchester City youngster, who appears to be following the path blazed by Jadon Sancho and Bellingham of a young English player establishing himself on the European stage with Dortmund.
Whether that path will take him to the senior England team like Sancho and Bellingham remains to be seen, but Gittens surely cannot fail to have caught the eye of new Three Lions manager and former Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.
If he is on the lookout for fresh blood when he names his first England squad in March, Tuchel could see players like Gittens capable of making a significant impact on the future of the national team.
Tuchel’s answer on the left wing?
This decisive goal in Zagreb was not isolated. Earlier in the Champions League, Dortmund were in trouble against Club Brugge, with the score still goalless 15 minutes from time.
But Gittens inspired another 3-0 away win, this time with two goals. The first was a deflected strike, but the second was another piece of individual brilliance involving the right winger cutting inside from the left.
This knack for big goals also extends to his domestic form, with two late goals earning him a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in August.
Gittens’ primary role is on the left wing, and this has been a problematic role for England, with no one making the position their own.
Phil Foden played there during Euro 2024, then Anthony Gordon was Lee Carsley’s main choice during the Nations League campaign, with Jack Grealish also selected, but Gittens is a natural who plays there regularly for a team currently fourth in the 36-team Champions League. painting.
It was a season in which a young man found his identity – including shortening his name from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens at the suggestion of his father.
After being a bit player last season with just three goals at Dortmund, Gittens has scored seven in 18 appearances so far in 2024-25 and has played a part in all of his competitive matches this campaign.
Bellingham became a world star at Dortmund. Gittens isn’t there yet, but he marks our cards as a player who could yet follow suit.
