The Sunderland goalkeeper has spoken for the first time about meeting up with the senior England squad, ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Slovenia.
England’s Jordan Pickford during training
Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has announced his pride after it emerged he had been called up to the senior England national side, for the first time in his career.
Pickford, who earned his first Three Lions call-up to replace the injured Tom Heaton, in Gareth Southgate’s squad, trained with his countrymen on earlier this week.
Taking to Twitter, the Black Cats keeper stated: “Honoured to be called up to the England senior team for the first time! Really excited for the journey ahead, can’t wait to get started.”
England’s Jordan Pickford, Fraser Forster and Joe Hart during training
The 22-year-old was part of the squad that travelled to Slovenia on Monday afternoon for their second World Cup qualifier in less than a week, after beating Malta 2-0 at Wembley on Saturday evening.
Pickford was initially picked for the under-21’s during the recent international break, but due to Heaton’s injury he will now be on call to potentially earn his first senior cap for his country.
West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon in action with Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford
The Sunderland stopper has been one of the stand-out goalkeepers in the opening months of the new Premier League season, but will find it hard to dislodge either Torino’s Joe Hart or Southampton’s Fraser Forster to earn his first cap, after only short spell of training with his team-mates.
Pickford has had to wait a long time to make a mark in the Sunderland first-team having been sent out on loan to six different clubs in the last four years and has nine England under-21 caps to date.
Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford celebrates after the game
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