Robbie Fowler shares Jordan Pickford prediction as Everton star prepares for England v Senegal
Robbie Fowler is predicting Jordan Pickford to be the sole Everton representative for England during their World Cup round of 16 clash with Senegal.
Pickford has started all three England games so far during the World Cup tournament, helping England to win their group with victories over Iran and Wales as well as a draw with the USA.
They now prepare to take on Senegal on Sunday evening (4 December), and after back-to-back clean sheets former Liverpool legend Fowler wrote in his Sunday Mirror column (4 December, page 78) that the Everton stopper should start once again.
“This is the team I reckon Gareth Southgate will start with,” he said. “Pickford; Walker, Maguire, Stones, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Henderson; Saka, Kane, Rashford.”
Conor Coady, Everton’s only other representative in the England squad, is yet to make an appearance during the tournament and will likely be on the bench again.
Clear number one
There was so much talk pre-tournament about one of Nick Pope or Aaron Ramsdale taking Pickford’s spot as the England number one for this tournament, but he’s shown why he was never likely to lose his shirt.
The goals against Iran that were conceded were nothing to do with him, and he made a stunning save in that game too that has largely been forgotten about because of the result.
Since then it’s been two clean sheets with great performances when it comes to distribution, reflexes and leadership and Southgate’s trust in him has been vindicated.
So much so that even Liverpool legends have accepted that he will be part of the starting lineup for any important England game while Southgate is the boss, and it’s completely deserved.
It’s no surprise that top teams like Chelsea are circling and keen to sign him, so Everton need to ensure they get a new contract sorted out for him as soon as possible to stop them taking him away.