Photo by Brook Mitchell / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Brook Mitchell / AFP via Getty Images
Everton’s Jordan Pickford was named on the bench for England’s Nations League opener against Spain, and Wayne Rooney has now waded in on the Three Lions goalkeeper situation.
Thomas Tuchel sprung a surprise against the world champions on Saturday evening as he plumped for James Trafford between the sticks.
Trafford has made a good start to the new season with Leeds United and currently boasts the highest save percentage of all Premier League goalkeepers, although it is only slightly higher than Jordan Pickford’s.
He got the nod against Spain, but shipped three goals as England fell to defeat.
There is now a debate surrounding the goalkeeper position, but for Wayne Rooney it is simple.
Wayne Rooney says Jordan Pickford should be restored for England
Speaking in a video from The Overlap and The United Stand, Rooney stated that he thinks Everton goalkeeper Pickford should still be playing for England.
He said: “I thought this was strange when Thomas Tuchel said James Trafford’s going to play two games and Pickford’s going to play two games. If I’m James Trafford, I’m thinking, ‘well, I want to play.’
“So, you either play me or you don’t. You play me. If I play well, I should keep my place. Not that ‘I play two games, Pickford plays two games.’
“I think that, just from an England point of view, that’s not taking the opportunity to play for England. That cap serious, because I want to play, but I’ve earned the right to play England. I’m not playing or I’m going to play two, he’s going to play two, and everyone’s happy.
“You play or you don’t. If you got to upset Jordan Pickford and not play him, don’t pick him.
“And I think Pickford should still be playing, by the way. But if you if you’re not going to play him, tell him you’re not playing him. And now you’ve got to fight for your place.”
Tuchel said of his reason for starting Trafford against Spain (via BBC Sport): “[Pickford] did absolutely nothing wrong, but we wanted to use this competition to see how far James actually is.”
Rooney makes an interesting point. It is questionable that Tuchel is ready to give Trafford and Pickford a couple of games each, when these are competitive games.
Pickford has been the undisputed number one for a long time, and he just came off the back of a really good World Cup. He’s also started the new season well with Everton.
For him to be chopping and changing now is a little odd. Trafford should be given a chance when Pickford doesn’t perform in a game for England and that has been a rarity.
We will see what he decides to do tonight in England’s latest game against Czechia. But there’s a strong argument for Pickford to be starting, and he would certainly have reason to grumble if he wasn’t.