Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Jordan Pickford remains England's No. 1 and commented on the social media abuse the Everton goalkeeper has recently received.
The 26-year-old was on the bench for the first time in a Premier League match since making the move to Goodison Park in 2017 for last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.
Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the former Sunderland man would be back between the posts to replace the impressive Robin Olsen when his side welcome Manchester United to Goodison Park this weekend.
And, after selecting Pickford for the latest Three Lions squad alongside Dean Henderson and Nick Pope, Southgate confirmed that the Blues man was still being considered at England's No. 1 for the time being.
Southgate told his press conference: "When people have said I've been loyal to him, he's deserved that, his performances have been excellent for us. So that's not been a difficult decision for me.
"We have some competition for places, but I'd have to say that there's nobody that I think is challenging seriously at the moment to push him out of that position.
"In terms of how his club are looking after him, he's got a hugely experienced manager there who's won everything in the game and he's in a very good place with that."
Southgate was also questioned on the social media abuse aimed at Pickford following last month's draw in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Following the 2-2 stalemate, Merseyside Police later confirmed that they had opened an investigation into messages sent to both the Everton goalkeeper and Richarlison.
And Southgate condemned abuse from social media in any form.
"I understand the passions that happen when there's a local derby and it's not for me to get involved with what happens between sets of supporters and the rivalry," the Three Lions manager added.
"But of course any abuse or threatening behaviour to anybody, we're seeing a lot of examples of this in various guises on social media, that's a concern for everybody really."
England have a friendly against the Republic of Ireland later this month before facing two Nations League fixtures against Belgium and Iceland to make a trio of matches.
