‘Playing very well’: Sky pundit says ‘wonderful’ Crystal Palace player deserves England call-up

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Former Premier League goalkeeper David James thinks Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone deserves his England call-up.

Sam Johnstone is one of three shot-stoppers who have been named in the Three Lions’ latest squad and James, who has been speaking on Sky Sports News (07/09/2023 at 10:30am), has backed Gareth Southgate’s decision to include the Crystal Palace man.

What has David James said about Sam Johnstone’s inclusion in the England squad?

On Johnstone’s call-up, James said: “He has been playing very well for Crystal Palace and, therefore, deserves that opportunity.”

The former England international later went on to add: “Sam Johnstone, naturally, I think gets an opportunity to be looked at and see if his club form, as I said before, is good enough to put him in that England frame.”

Johnstone will know he will have to keep playing well if he wants to remain in between the sticks at Palace and continue to get called up to the Three Lions’ squad.

The Eagles have just signed Dean Henderson, who will be breathing down the 30-year-old’s neck, while Newcastle United’s Nick Pope will be hoping to get back into the England set-up.

Sam Johnstone has the chance to become Crystal Palace’s No.1

There really does seem to be an opportunity for Johnstone, who has been described as a “wonderful professional” by Micah Richards, to cement a place in Palace’s team following Vicente Guaita’s exit.

While the Eagles have brought Henderson in from Manchester United, Roy Hodgson has made it clear that the position between the sticks is up for grabs.

“The competition between them is going to be very important and of course it’s good for us because whichever goalkeeper gets the No.1 shirt we know we’ve got a top, top-class goalkeeper,” he recently told Palace’s official website and the media.

With Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale around, it seems unlikely that Johnstone will become England’s No.1. But if he can retain that position at Palace and continue playing well there, then perhaps the former West Bromwich Albion man will be on the plane to Germany next year.