Pickford looking like firstchoice keeper
LONDON: England manager Gareth Southgate has indicated that Everton’s Jordan Pickford could be his firstchoice goalkeeper at the World Cup after saying his selection in Sunday’s friendly against Nigeria was a ‘‘bit of a statement’’.
Southgate, whose other keepers are Stoke City’s Jack Butland and Burnley’s uncapped Nick Pope, praised Pickford’s distribution and calmness in the warmup game against fellow World Cup qualifier Nigeria at Wembley, which England won 21.
Veteran Joe Hart, who has 75 caps, is not going to Russia and Southgate’s trio of keepers have only 10 caps among them.
‘‘I was really pleased with what Jordan did,’’ the England manager told British media.
‘‘His decisionmaking on crosses, the punch he made, his distribution and calmness to slide passes into midfield . . . that was really important to the way we want to play.’’
‘‘There was a bit of a statement with the selection of Jordan.’’
Pickford, who has three caps, said Southgate had still not informed the squad who would be firstchoice keeper in Russia.
‘‘I’ve worked with the manager before at under21 level, so maybe he will tell us in advance, but when that will be I don’t know,’’ he said.
‘‘Nothing’s been confirmed. I’ve just got to keep putting in performances and keep working hard in training.
‘‘Getting the nod [against Nigeria] was brilliant.
‘‘There’s another cap ticked off and another solid performance.’’
England, drawn in Group G, begin its World Cup campaign against Tunisia on June 18, before facing Panama on June 24 and Belgium four days later.— Reuters