Pundit Micah Richards is now convinced that Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will not be England’s first choice at the European Championships next summer.
Indeed, Richards has stated that he is ‘100%’ sure that the £30m keeper will lose his place in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI to Newcastle United’s Nick Pope.
Speaking alongside Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football Podcast, the trio discussed England’s goalkeeping options ahead of next summer’s tournament in Germany.
Richards said: “We’ve got Ramsdale who’s not playing at Arsenal. We’ve got Pickford, who could potentially go down with Everton. Then we go to Crystal Palace, we’ve got Sam Johnstone…”
Shearer interjects, suggesting: “Pope.”
Richards continued: “Well I was coming there. He’ll be number one at the Euros at the end of the season, Pope will be number one.”
Lineker asks: “Do you think so?”
To which Richards responds: “100 per cent.”
Richards might be wrong on Jordan Pickford, who impressed once again during Everton’s weekend win
Jordan Pickford has retained the England number one spot for a number of years now, with an impressive campaign at the 2018 World Cup, before setting the record for the most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal at Euro 2021.
Indeed, the 29-year-old also kept three clean sheets at the 2022 World Cup and England reached the quarter-finals, losing to finalists France.
The Everton stopper has not just been the best performing English goalkeeper, but one of the best performing keepers overall in the Premier League for many years now, though continuously faces doubts over his international credentials.
The £30m goalkeeper is a top-class player for both club and country and while Nick Pope is also a very accomplished stopper, Pickford’s experience will be invaluable for England at the Euros.
The Everton man has already seen off competition from Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale, and no doubt he will retain his England spot ahead of next year’s tournament as well.
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