(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
Jordan Pickford has vowed to 'keep proving points' after being warned by Thomas Tuchel that the race for World Cup selection has begun. In each of the past four major tournaments, Pickford has been England’s constant, but the Everton star is under pressure from Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson.
And speaking on the eve of Saturday's win over Andorra in Barcelona, Tuchel warned that reputations are out the window in the build-up to next year’s World Cup. He said: “Jordan has been in goal for a long, long time. He earned his place with consistent performances at a high level. Jordan trains at the highest level, and we're very, very happy with him.
“He's doing everything to keep his place because he feels that Dean [Henderson] stepped up and found another gear.
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“Dean got a vital title for Palace (the FA Cup), and he was a big figure. This helped his confidence a lot.
“Then we have the very young James Trafford, who played a fantastic, record-breaking campaign with Burnley and got clean sheets.
“Hopefully he can prove himself in the Premier League next season, and then the race is on. It is a fight for every position, there is no exception for goalkeepers.”
But speaking following England’s 1-0 victory at the RCDE Stadium, Pickford said: “I’m only 31. I am young as a goalkeeper, and I will keep striving and keep proving points.
“There has been competition since I pulled on the shirt for the very first time against Germany (in November 2017).
“It is about me keeping the shirt and pushing, and the boys behind me chase. That is where my mentality is strong, and that is where I keep improving. 76 caps, 37 clean sheets … just shy of 50 per cent. That’s not bad, is it?”
Pickford also believes his game with the ball at his feet is still developing.
“(Against Andorra), I still had the patterns, and my role was to find the right solution, the right pass, not to just kick it long," he said.
“We have players who want the ball constantly, and it is about making the right decisions. I thought I did that (against Andorra).”
Tuchel’s side came under criticism for their performance in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, where Harry Kane scored the only goal in the second-half.
Boos greeted the half-time and final whistles after the 6,950 travelling fans witnessed a forgettable and frustrating display against the side sat 173rd in FIFA’s world rankings.
“We are happy we won but not happy how we played as a team," the former Sunderland man revealed.
“It is a new manager and a new style of play, and we have to adapt quickly because – just like that – the World Cup will be around the corner.”