This is fantastic from Lucas, this, and proves why we absolutely made the right decision to keep him in the summer – and perhaps should have given him the vice-captaincy over James Milner.
Our-longest serving player has been encouraging and mentoring Joe Gomez through his injury, despite only meeting the teenage Englishman over the summer.
Gomez picked up an ACL injury why playing for England Under-21s earlier in the campaign, which was particularly devastating considering the fact he’d cemented himself as a key member of the first-team squad since his summer arrival from Charlton.
“From the start he came in and said to me: “I’ve done this before, I know what you’re going through,” Gomez told the ECHO.
“Lucas has been brilliant in terms of giving me advice and keeping me positive. Every day I see him he talks me through this stage of the injury and how it went for him.
“There have been times when you think the knee won’t be able to bend the same as it did and he’s been there to reassure me. He says: ‘don’t worry, it’s fine’.
“Everything he’s told me so far about what to expect has been spot on. Seeing how Lucas has been able to get back playing at the highest level spurs me on.
“It’s great to have someone around who has been through the same thing.”
Gomez started the campaign at left-back, actually keeping Alberto Moreno out of the side – but will be a central defender long term. He’s arguably our most promising youngster along with Jordon Ibe – and would likely have got a chance in the side now due to the injury of Mamadou Sakho.
He’s not expected to play again this season though, so we’re mighty glad the likes of Lucas are keeping Gomez’s head up while he’s on the sidelines.