Marcus Rashford has hailed Arsenal’s number one, Aaron Ramsdale and Newcastle United’s new star, Nick Pope, for being ‘unbelievable’ in training with England at the Qatar World Cup.
With Everton’s shot-stopper, Jordan Pickford, donning the gloves for his third major tournament in a row, it has resulted in the above duo having to resort to time on the bench.
Whilst Gareth Southgate can bring on a back-up midfield or a forward option from the bench at will, the same can’t be done for the keepers.
Therefore, they aren’t getting any minutes, and from that sense, it could be frustrating for a player.
But not for Ramsdale or Pope, who have been ‘top-quality’, according to Rashford, despite their situation, as he told the Lions’ Den on England’s YouTube channel.
“The keepers have been top-quality,” said Rashford. “It’s only one of them that can play. The other two lads (Ramsdale and Pope) have been unbelievable.
“They have always given it 100% in training and they put their bodies on the line every single day. It has been fantastic to have them type of professionals around us.”
PICKFORD PROVING HIS WORTH
Before a tournament starts, there always seems to be a debate as to whether Pickford should be England’s number one.
This despite never putting a foot wrong on the international stage, being one of his nation’s best players in Russia, and then continuing that at Euro 2020, as well as being Everton’s best player for the past 18 months.
And now, once again, he is producing the goods on the world stage, which just goes to show, whilst he has been a marmite-like figure on the domestic circuit for his error-prone ways, he can’t be messed with on the international scene because he is top, top quality.
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