GLOVE IS IN THE AIR
Big Sam: Three Lions boss should make Pickford – not Butland – his No.1 keeper
IT has been billed as an England shootout – between the men who deal in shutouts.
Yet Everton boss Sam Allardyce passionately believes there can only be one winner when his keeper Jordan Pickford goes head-to-head with Jack Butland in the battle to be England’s No.1 keeper for the World Cup.
Pickford faces his big rival for the international jersey when he visits Stoke this afternoon in a huge game for both clubs.
Yet Allardyce (right) – who knows a thing or two about the subject after briefly managing the Three Lions – believes his own keeper has the edge.
“I think that when you talk about consistency, Jordan has been our most consistent player,” the veteran manager said.
“At 23, and coming to as big a club as Everton is and playing to the level he has on a consistent basis, shows that age means nothing for him.
“He believes in himself and what he is, and I think that he grows and gets better from hereon in.”
Allardyce took charge of one England game back in 2016, when Joe Hart was his No.1, with Burnley’s Tom Heaton the back-up.
But since then Butland and Pickford have emerged as the two rivals for the vacant No.1 spot, with Hart almost certain to be overlooked because of his lack of game time at West Ham.
Pickford – now 24 – earned his first full international cap against Germany last November, and he joins 25-year-old Butland in the squad for the upcoming friendlies against Holland and Italy, with the pair likely to play a game each.
But Allardyce believes his Everton keeper has gained so much experience playing a full Premier League season at Goodison that he can prove he is the perfect choice for Gareth Southgate.
“The experience he has had this year by playing every game – I don’t think he has missed a game – playing at the highest level, and making some critical saves in periods when you have needed to get a result, he has been there for us,” Big Sam added. “He made the odd mistake, like every keeper does, but they have been few and far between. I rate his chances very, very highly in terms of his England career.
“Whether that is enough to get Gareth to choose him only time will tell. But in terms of what he has done this year, compared to the people he is competing against, he has played every single game and played exceptionally well.”
Butland has six caps, and been in fine form, but with Stoke desperate to pull out of relegation trouble he will need to be.
They have won just one of their last 12 matches, and need victory at home against an Everton side who boast the worst away record in the top flight.