CAN’T PICK A FIGHT

JORDAN PICKFORD has suffered a blow to his hopes of pressuring England No.1 Joe Hart.

Everton’s £30million keeper Pickford (left) withdrew from the England squad to face Malta and Slovakia with a muscle injury.

It robs him of the chance to impress Lions boss Gareth Southgate in training this week and press his claims.

Southgate has admitted that Hart is facing a genuine challenge for his shirt from rival keepers. But he has chosen not to call up a replacement, having named four goalies in his original squad last week.

Jack Butland, who Southgate is considering starting against Malta on Friday, and Tom Heaton were the two others.

Southgate said: “What we have got, in the goalkeeping area, are players who really believe they could be the No.1 and so that is, of course, a challenge for Joe.”