Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will certainly have something to say on recent comments that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has made.
Everton stopper Jordan Pickford joined from Sunderland in 2017, and has since become one of the longest-serving players in the Premier League for one club.
Those performances have seen him become England’s outright first-choice goalkeeper under Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel, reaching two major finals as a result.
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But Pep Guardiola’s comments on Manchester City starlet James Trafford will have riled Pickford up, as he is not likely to give up the England spot too easily.
England v Wales - International Friendly
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Pep Guardiola thinks James Trafford will ‘soon’ replace Jordan Pickford in the England team
Pickford made his England debut in 2017, and by the time the 2018 World Cup came around, he was England’s top choice to lead them to Russia.
He’s not looked back since. Four major tournaments have passed with him in goal, with England reaching the quarter-finals as a minimum in each and every one of those.
At the age of 31, Pickford still has plenty of years left in the tank at the highest level.
But James Trafford has been touted as his long-term replacement, having excelled for England at under-21 level, as well as being called up to the England national team over the past 18 months.
And Guardiola stated that ‘sooner’ rather than later, Trafford will become England’s starting goalkeeper – which Pickford will have something to say over.
Speaking ahead of City’s trip to Swansea on Wednesday, Guardiola said: “He will have to be ready in case we need him in the Premier League or Champions League.
“We have an incredible keeper [who will be] England No. 1 sooner or later.”
James Trafford gestures during Huddersfield Town vs Manchester City
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Without any regular Premier League games, it’s hard to see Trafford developing beyond Pickford until that becomes a reality.
James Trafford’s irregular minutes for Manchester City means Pickford will continue as England’s first-choice
Trafford was immense for England’s under-21 side in the 2023 European Championships, failing to concede a single goal in the tournament, backed with a superb double-save from a penalty in the final minutes against Spain.
That resulted in a move to Burnley, but he largely struggled under Vincent Kompany, being dropped midway through the season as the Clarets were relegated.
However, that was followed with incredible form last season. Burnley conceded just 16 goals in the Championship, including a 12-game run without conceding, seeing Trafford at the peak of his powers.
His £31million move to Manchester City in the summer initially saw him become first-choice goalkeeper at the Etihad Stadium, but after Trafford’s blunder vs Tottenham and with Gianluigi Donnarumma being signed by City, that will relegate him to cup appearances.
Pickford, meanwhile, has only missed one Premier League game since 2022. He’s getting regular game time and Pickford was hailed as ‘world-class’ by Tim Howard last season.
Trafford will get his chance in the future but for now, Pickford – who has never let England down – will at least continue at the World Cup, and potentially at Euro 2028.