In comments sure to rouse the interest of Jordan Pickford and mount further pressure on him, Burnley goalkeeper and fellow England international Nick Pope has reveal the full extent of his England ambitions, indicating his desire to play for his country at Euro 2020 next year.
The Clarets’ main netminder is set to feature against the Republic of Ireland in tonight’s clash for the Three Lions ahead of regular first-choice goalkeeping option Pickford.
Pope conceded that the Everton shot-stopper is England’s current no.1 choice but also revealed that he sees the European Championships as a “once in a lifetime” chance to represent his country during a home tournament.
The Ireland fixture could be a chance for Pope to prove himself in a bid to oust Pickford for competitive games. The Everton man has only been axed once since the 2018 World Cup for a competitive England match, when he was dropped for Pope in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Kosovo.
“I think it’s fair to say he’s number one at the minute,” Pope said when asked about Pickford’s position in quotes sourced by BT Sport.
“If you look at the last 25, 30 fixtures, he’d have played probably 28 of them. So, a person with that sort of record in the national team, I think, deserves to be called number one and has earned it.
“It’s not happened overnight. It’s happened over two, three years consistently playing for your country. So, I think it’s fair to say he’s number one at the minute, not to say that doesn’t change whenever the time may be.
“For a goalkeeper, you’ve got to keep working and – like any player does – earn your right to be in the squad and fighting hard to make your way into the team.
“When you are second in line or third in line, your aspiration is to go up the spots. That is what it is like as a keeper and most positions.
“Keepers get more attention for that sort of thing. You have to be consistent for Burnley and England. This is an opportunity for myself to play with England players in an England team.
“It is important to play well in those games as Jordan has done for England for a couple of years. He has been top drawer.
“It’s alive for us once, a once in a lifetime opportunity. The lads in the dressing room here, and I know the ones outside the squad as well, will be doing everything they can to make that final squad. The opportunity is something that won’t come up again for anyone.”
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Pope’s comments might unsettle Pickford slightly, though he is likely all too aware of the pressure already on him.
Pickford’s form could easily improve in an England shirt. Rather than being burdened by the pressure of representing his country, the 26-year-old’s professionalism may guide him towards grasping his England chances in the future as opportunities to prove he still can hold down the number one spot emerge.
