Jordan Pickford named in England’s World Cup squad

Manager Gareth Southgate has gone ahead and named his 23-man England squad for the upcoming World Cup, and as expected, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was included. Pickford, 24, heads to Russia as the presumed number one for the Three Lions.

Speaking to Everton’s website, Pickford had the following to say:

I cannot wait, it will be an incredible experience and my experience at youth level will stand me in good stead.

My family have always given me the best possible opportunity to become a top goalkeeper and it would be really special to pay them back by playing at a World Cup.

I was given an opportunity by Gareth Southgate and I think I took it. I played under him for the Under-21s, so he knows what I am capable of. There is already trust there.

Congratulations to Jordan, whose upcoming role in Russia is well deserved. He’ll join fellow goalkeepers Jack Butland of Stoke City and Nick Pope from Burnley. Here is the squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Nick Pope (Burnley)
Defenders: Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), John Stones (Manchester City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace/Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Dele Alli (Tottenham)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)