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Pickford still England’s No 1 – but Trafford is getting his chance

Jordan Pickford has rarely had to share England’s goalkeeping duties over the past eight years. Under Thomas Tuchel, that is beginning to change.

The Everton goalkeeper will be on the bench against Spain on Sunday, with James Trafford selected for England’s final Nations League group match in Madrid. Pickford started Thursday’s 2-1 win over Croatia, taking his international appearance tally to 94. Tuchel insists Pickford remains his first choice, but he also wants to find out whether Trafford is ready to challenge him. Sunday’s match against the world champions should provide a useful test.

Tuchel knows what Pickford can offer

The England manager has been clear about his reasons for selecting Trafford. Having watched Pickford in major tournaments, he believes he already knows how the Everton goalkeeper performs under pressure.

“We know what Jordan can do for us. Jordan is at the moment our No. 1,” Tuchel said, speaking before the Spain match. “We have a very clear picture in high-pressure moments. He played in tournaments and played for me in the World Cup.”

Those comments, reported by Hayters, are reassuring for Pickford, although they do not mean his place is guaranteed indefinitely. Trafford has already started against Spain this season, playing in England’s 3-2 defeat at Wembley in September. Tuchel is now giving him another opportunity against the same opposition, this time with first place in the Nations League group at stake.

It appears a deliberate attempt to assess a younger goalkeeper rather than an indication that Pickford has played himself out of the side.

Competition is becoming part of the picture

Pickford’s international record gives him an advantage that Trafford cannot yet match. He has been England’s first-choice goalkeeper since the 2018 World Cup and has played in five major tournaments. That experience has counted heavily under successive managers. Pickford has generally been dependable for England, particularly in tournament football, where mistakes can carry greater consequences.

But Tuchel is taking a different approach to the position. Rather than using Pickford in every competitive match, he has divided appearances between his two leading goalkeepers during the Nations League campaign. As Sky Sports reported, Pickford’s selection against Croatia was followed by confirmation that Trafford would face Spain. The decision was part of Tuchel’s plan before the international break, rather than a reaction to Thursday’s performance.

Trafford will have a chance to make his case, but Pickford has not been told he is no longer first choice. Both things can be true.

Everton form will matter when England reconvene

Pickford returns to Everton next week with his club in good form. David Moyes’ side have won three successive Premier League matches and travel to Brentford on Monday 23 November. His performances at club level will remain relevant to Tuchel’s decisions, particularly if Trafford continues to impress. Pickford has been an important figure in Everton’s defence for several seasons, and there has been little in his recent international displays to suggest a sharp decline.

England do not play again until March, when the Nations League quarter-finals begin. By then, Tuchel will have had several more months to assess both goalkeepers in the Premier League. Pickford’s position is less automatic than it once was, but that is not the same as losing it. For now, Tuchel has chosen to give Trafford another examination while continuing to regard the Everton goalkeeper as his number one.

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Gary Gowers is a sports journalist and the editor of Read Everton, where he leads daily coverage of Everton news, transfers and analysis. He also writes about Manchester City for Read Man City and motorsport for Read Motorsport. A former accountant, he became a freelance writer in 2011 and has written for BBC Sport and Metro.

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