Wednesday, March 28
 

Jordan Pickford to start in goal against Netherlands

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is given the nod by Gareth Southgate to start the friendly with the Netherlands at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Gareth Southgate has announced that Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will start for England in Friday evening's friendly with the Netherlands.

The 24-year-old is locked in a battle with Jack Butland and Nick Pope to take the number one jersey away from Joe Hart, who has endured a torrid couple of years.

With just a handful of games to go until the World Cup finals get underway, Southgate will give each keeper - and possibly the injured Tom Heaton - a chance to shine, beginning with Pickford's audition in Amsterdam.

"Jordan Pickford will play in goal tomorrow night," he said at his pre-match presser. "He is a very agile goalkeeper, quick around his goal, he is capable of making big saves, his distribution is excellent - a really outstanding distributor of the ball with his feet which is how we want to play.

"It is a great opportunity for him. He played really well against Germany in November and it's a good chance for us to see him in another international game.

"It is a very tight call at the moment because there is four guys in the squad who have justifiable claims for different reasons. I would imagine that Tom Heaton will be sitting at home hoping he gets back into Burnley's team as well, who would want to play a part in that squad as well.

"We are not in a situation where we have a goalkeeper who is established in the team and playing at his club regularly and all things are aligned as you might hope at this point. But that is where we are, I have confidence in all of the guys that they can go in and do the job. At the moment we don't have a clear number one."

Pickford was one of England's star men in the meeting with Germany four months ago when marking his debut with a clean sheet.

Share this article now:
Read Next:
Koeman: 'Pickford destined to be first choice'
>

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Loading ...
Recommended Next on SM
Koeman: 'Pickford destined to be first choice'
Agent: Klopp "a good fit" for Bayern
Wenger 'angered by Wilshere treatment'
Tarkowski slams VAR penalty call
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City30263185206581
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd30205558233565
3Liverpool31189473343963
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs30187559253461
5Chelsea30175852272556
6Arsenal301461055411448
7Burnley30111092726143
8Leicester CityLeicester301010104543240
9Everton31117133750-1340
10Bournemouth3199133749-1236
11Watford31106153955-1636
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton30810122840-1234
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3088143040-1032
14Swansea CitySwansea3087152542-1731
15Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3187162552-2731
16Crystal Palace3179153048-1830
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham3079143657-2130
18Southampton30513122944-1528
19Stoke CityStoke3169162958-2927
20West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom31311172449-2520
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City30263185206581
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd30205558233565
3Liverpool31189473343963
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs30187559253461
5Chelsea30175852272556
6Arsenal301461055411448
7Burnley30111092726143
8Leicester CityLeicester301010104543240
9Everton31117133750-1340
10Bournemouth3199133749-1236
11Watford31106153955-1636
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton30810122840-1234
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3088143040-1032
14Swansea CitySwansea3087152542-1731
15Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3187162552-2731
16Crystal Palace3179153048-1830
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham3079143657-2130
18Southampton30513122944-1528
19Stoke CityStoke3169162958-2927
20West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom31311172449-2520
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in with Facebook to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
This site uses cookies for Analytics. Click to accept and dismiss this message.