DJ: OUR NUMBER ONES WILL BE HITS
James: I would pick Jordan as first choice for Russia but all three keepers would do a decent job at the World Cup
WORLD CUP golden oldie David James is confident Gareth Southgate’s rookie keepers won’t let England down in Russia.
James (left) remains the oldest debutant at a World Cup after winning his 51st cap at South Africa in 2010 aged 39 years and 321 days.
By contrast, Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Nick Pope have an average age of 25 and boast just nine caps between them.
James cited Germany making Manuel Neuer their No.1 in 2010 despite being 24 and only having a handful of caps as proof that age should be no barrier. “I have no worries about them at all,” said the former Liverpool goalie.
“If you look at the Germany squad, the current world champions, before 2010 Manuel Neuer had played single-figure games. A lot of their players were on four or five caps in 2010.
“Germany were not worried about putting the lessexperienced players in.
“They got further than us in the tournament and the following World Cup, they went and won it. With Gareth having worked with a lot of these players at Under-21 level, he’s been grooming them for this big occasion.” James got his chance in 2010 because of Rob Green’s howler (below) in the opening match against the USA, and feels Pickford should be Southgate’s No.1 because of his fine debut season with Everton. “For me Jordan Pickford would be No.1,” he said. “Thirty million pounds makes him a very expensive young goalkeeper, but he has had a good season for Everton.
“Jack Butland, with the injury problems he’s had in recent times, would be No.2.
“That squad has a lot of youth about it. There’s a lot of continuity with the Under-21s going through to the senior squad.
“Butland will need to get back into the Premier League to challenge for the No.1 spot.
“It’s tough on Joe Hart missing out. He was unlucky in that Adrian
replaced him for the Manchester City game because he couldn’t play, and kept him out of the team after that. He will be disappointed not to make the squad, but Gareth has a clear idea of what he is doing. “If Joe can get another Premier League club, then it keeps that competition healthy.” James also knows from experience that as keepers tend to play longer than outfield stars, there is usually time to come back from adversity.
“I know it’s difficult when you’ve been relegated like Jack has been with Stoke. I’ve been in that position myself in 2010 with Portsmouth.
“I was 38 when I got into the England squad again and I was delighted.
“Not starting the World Cup as No.1 was tough, although I understood Fabio Capello’s reasoning. “I got a chance perhaps because of Rob Green’s performance against the US. “I didn’t realise it at the time that I was the oldest debutant at a World Cup, although the Egypt goalkeeper, Essam ElHadary, is set to break my record because he’s 45. It shows that as long as you work at it and don’t give up, there’s always a chance.” LG, partners of the England men’s team, and David James surprised residents of Wembley Grove, Birmingham, with thousands of pounds worth of free LG TVs and soundbars.