Gary Neville urges Gareth Southgate to stick with Jordan Pickford over Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for the World Cup as the Everton ace suits England, via a Sky Sports Q&A.
Pickford has been the Three Lions’ number one since 2017 when he broke through to take over from Joe Hart. He fended off competition from the Celtic stopper and Jack Butland for the gloves ahead of the last World Cup in Russia and has since amassed a total of 42-caps.
But the 28-year-old’s time as the first-choice between the sticks at Wembley is now under threat. Pickford has sometimes suffered in line with Everton’s Premier League struggles so far this season, while Ramsdale has gone from strength to strength since joining Arsenal.
Ramsdale has continually earned plaudits since moving to the Emirates Stadium in a £24m deal with Sheffield United in August. His performances have not always been perfect after Diogo Jota beat the 23-year-old at his near-post as Liverpool won 2-0 on Wednesday night.
But keeping 12 clean sheets over 24 top-flight appearances has seen Southgate name the Chesterton-born ‘keeper in his March squad. An impressive stretch before the November international break also saw Ramsdale make his senior England debut against San Marino.
Neville urges Southgate to stick with Everton’s Pickford over Arsenal’s Ramsdale
Southgate has now included Ramsdale in all but one of England’s last six squads in a bid to keep Everton’s Pickford on his toes, in line with his efforts for Sheffield United and Arsenal. But the north London favourite only earned minutes in the dead-rubber tie at San Marino.
Pickford has also faced competition from Sam Johnstone over the last year, and Nick Pope remains a threat. But Neville would urge Southgate to stick with the Toffees stopper come the World Cup in Qatar later this year, over axing the Everton ace for Arsenal’s Ramsdale.
“You have to go with Jordan Pickford because I think his England performances have been very good, to be fair, generally over three or four years,” Neville said. “I’m not saying it’s always been great for Everton – sometimes it has.
“But his form for England, I think, is very good and he suits England, the way the game is played at international level and his distribution from the back. He’s got a good rapport, his form has been better with England, better than I thought it ever would be.
“I don’t think he deserves to lose his space yet, even though Aaron Ramsdale is doing an absolutely brilliant job at Arsenal.”
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