Everton icon Andy Hinchcliffe has surprisingly called for Jordan Pickford to be dropped as England's number one.
The Blues goalkeeper has been Gareth Southgate's first choice since the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia where his penalty-saving exploits made him a national hero.
Despite Pickford now having having played 24 times to date for the Three Lions and on course to eventually overhaul his former captain Phil Jagielka (40) as the most-capped England player while at Everton , Hinchcliffe, who was part of the 1995 FA Cup-winning side, the Blues last major trophy to date, has called for Burnley's Nick Pope to get the nod for this summer's European Championships with Wembley staging the final of the multi-nation-hosted tournament.
On awarding Pope his man-of-the-match award on Sky Sports at the end of Burnley's 2-1 comeback victory at home to Leicester City, Hinchcliffe, who made 227 appearances for Everton between 1990-97, said: “I think goalscorers always tend to get the glory but goalkeepers keep games alive and that’s exactly what Nick Pope has done in this second half with three brilliant, crucial saves, none more so than the Jamie Vardy penalty.
“If you’re looking for a starting goalkeeper for England at the Euros in the summer then I wouldn’t look any further than Nick Pope.”
Despite being almost two years older than 25-year-old Pickford, Pope has been capped just twice by England so far.
He made his international debut as a 65th minute substitute on June 7 2018 in a 2-0 friendly win over Costa Rica before turning out in a 4-0 victory over Kosovo on November 17 2019 in England's final Euro qualifying game which was a dead rubber after they had already secured their place in the finals.
Both Pickford and Pope are ever-present for their clubs in the Premier League this season having each played 23 matches.
Pope has one more clean sheet (seven to six) but Pickford has conceded five fewer goals overall (33 to 38).
Earlier this month, Carlo Ancelotti rubbished suggestions that he was looking to replace Pickford at Everton.
He said: "I have a great goalkeeper in goal that is the goalkeeper of the national team. Of course we are not looking for a goalkeeper."
