Why Jordan Pickford's Hampden Park absence should help, not scotch, his England chances; Sunderland's Jordan Pickford was not one of four goalkeepers called up by England for the World Cup qualifier in Scotland but it may not be so bad.
Byline: Stuart Rayner
When England played Scotland at Hampden Park on Saturday,Jordan Pickfordwas nowhere to be seen.
It might not be such a bad thing.
Instead of being part of the senior squad for the World Cup qualifier, the Washington-born shot-stopper was instead preparing for the European Under-21 Championships in Poland.
That might seem a bit of a come-down for a playerSunderlandare hoping will break the British transfer record for a goalkeeper this summer, but Gareth Southgate sees it differently.
The England manager was Pickford's boss when the Young Lions won the Toulon Tournament, and is a known fan. He twice called Pickford into the senior squad as injury cover last season.
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Southgate has made it known that he wants more of his young players to pick up tournament experience before they play in full World Cups and European Championships.
And while a lot of club bosses have turned their noses up at the idea, and Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli were needed to start for the seniors, Pickford is doing what he wanted.
He will learn more keeping ut the best young strikers in Europe (though not Swedish club-mate Joel Asoro, who is suspended from England's opening game) than he will sat on his backside watching Joe Hart, as Fraser Forster, Tom Heaton and Jack Butland did instead.
The microscope will be on Pickford in Poland -- not just from Southgate but from the likes of Arsene Wenger and Slaven Bilic who are considering whether to twist their owner's arms to write the big cheque that will bring him to their club this summer.
"The Euros is massive for me and a lot of the other players," said Pickford. "I don't want to be getting distracted (by talk of where he will play next) and I am really excited for it.
"We have got a chance to win it with the squad we have got. We have come this far, we have to get out of the group first but we are capable of doing that easily. We will see where we go from there."
Joel Asoro won't be facing Sunderland club-mate Jordan Pickford - and he's not happy about it
David Moyes did not do his reputation much good at Sunderland, but the proud Scot has done England a big favour by giving Pickford his opportunity.
"He has been great, to give me that experience," said Pickford. "There was a lot of talk about certain keepers coming in, like Joe Hart, but the manager just brought in...
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