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Not Bad For A Little Lad From Sunderland – Fans React To England Selection

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England manager Gareth Southgate made his 23 man squad selection for the upcoming World Cup in Russia yesterday.

With fans across the country still debating his selections, those picked, the chances he’s taken and importantly, those he has overlooked and placed at best on the standby list, Everton fans largely are more than onboard with the selection of Jordan Pickford as one of three goalkeepers making the trip.

Pickford finds himself in the group alongside Stoke City’s Jack Butland and Burnley’s Nick Pope and you’d have to think our 24-year-old is in with a good shot of making the position between the sticks his own. Many consider Butland to be the new No 1 with the omission of Joe Hart, but with relegation for Stoke this term, he might not be best placed in reality. Pope clearly has talent and has done well this season but you could argue he lacks the game time to take top spot and the benefit for him is being involved.

Over to Pickford to impress in training and we’ll see if he grabs the opportunity with both hands. If he does, he’ll become the youngest stopper to represent the country at a World Cup Finals.

Speaking to the Official Site yesterday as the news broke, he explained.

“I cannot wait, it will be an incredible experience and my experience at youth level will stand me in good stead. I was given an opportunity by Gareth Southgate and I think I took it. I played under him for the Under-21s, so he knows what I am capable of. There is already trust there.”

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