Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Gaffes to cost poor Pickford
JORDAN PICKFORD is facing his first major doubts over his place since being made England’s No.1 keeper.
Gareth Southgate is concerned about his erratic form for Everton this season and also the lack of genuine competition to push him at England level.
Pickford will be named today in Southgate’s squad for the forthcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers with Czech Republic and Montenegro later this month.
He seems likely to start both games, but there are genuine worries about the 25-year-old, who was one of England’s biggest heroes at the World Cup last summer.
Pickford has made a string of high-profile gaffes this season, in the Merseyside derby at Anfield in December and on Saturday at Newcastle, including bringing down striker Salomon Rondon to concede a penalty.
Southgate wants stronger competition and will recall Burnley’s Tom Heaton into the squad, as he missed the World Cup through injury, but has since regained his place at Turf Moor.
Stoke keeper Jack Butland has also been told he will continue to be picked, despite being stuck in the Championship, and will also be one of the three keepers.
Southampton’s Alex Mccarthy is worried about his place in the squad, having lost his place at St Mary’s to Under-21 keeper Angus Gunn, who is rated highly by Southgate for the long term.
But Southgate is likely to resist the temptation to call up Gunn for the seniors this time as he does not want to disrupt the England U-21s.