I won’t need favour from godfather Gareth

Freddie Woodman has played for England at six different age groups. But he knows he’ll have to do something special to get a full cap – and not have it seen as a favour from godfather Gareth Southgate (right). But the 20-year-old has a steely self-belief he’ll get there on his own steam. He said: “People bring it up but me and Gareth have a strictly professional relationship. I only see him at St George’s Park. “It’s an unbelievable environment there. If you are a lover of the game, there’s everything you want. You get to stay on site, football pitch is there, gym is there.

“There’s no excuses, everything is there. That investment is reflected in the success England have had – winning the Under-20 World Cup, the U19 Euros and U17 World Cup.

“A lot of the boys are getting their chances, our U21 team are playing in the Prem, the Championship. That’s so good for the future. And the last time I went away I got the chance to train with the first team. “Jordan Pickford was injured and they were short of a keeper. I got the call to go and train and it was an unbelievable moment to just be around the bigger lads and learn from them. “Joe Hart, Tom Heaton, Jack Butland are all keepers I look up to. So to watch them up close, and get to speak to them and pick their brains, was quality.”