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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Adam Jones

Gareth Southgate confirms Jordan Pickford decision and addresses Dominic Calvert-Lewin gesture

England manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Jordan Pickford will not start in goal for his country against Wales on Thursday evening.

However, with three matches over the course of the international break, the Everton goalkeeper is involved in a close race with his teammates over the position in the squad.

Either of Nick Pope or Dean Henderson will start between the sticks as the Three Lions welcome Wales to Wembley for a friendly, before Nations League matches against Belgium and Denmark in the following days.

And Southgate, speaking ahead of Thursday's game, discussed the form of all three of his goalkeepers including Pickford - who has come under fire for some high-profile Everton mistakes this season.

The England boss said: "I think we've got to be careful about using the three camps left in terms of where should we be as a team and in our thinking. We had no games for ten months so we've had to start again really in terms of momentum.

"Clearly we know that Jordan has made errors. Nick actually made errors at the weekend and Dean has only played the League Cup game so far against changed line-ups.

"There's a very close contest and all three we don't have any hesitation of putting in goal.

"We will make a change tomorrow, because I think it's a good opportunity to get other people on the field. If you're taking goalkeepers away and they're not getting the opportunity to play that's the hardest thing.

"We've had keepers over the years who've retired because of that being a really difficult situation to handle. For the harmony of the squad and the group we've got to make sure that we're doing that, as well as the fact we want that competition.

"I would say it's a very tight call. I always go back to the fact Jordan's performances with us have been excellent, I'm not oblivious to what's happened to him at Everton but there can be lots of factors within individuals' performances at clubs.

"We've got to help them be in their best possible form when they're with us, whatever the situation is with their club."

Dominic Calvert-Lewin deservedly earned his first senior England call-up for this international break and caught the eye with one particular gesture as he arrived at the camp.

In greeting Southgate, the Everton striker removed his hat before shaking the hand of his manager - and that was something the boss was delighted to see.

He added: "It really hit me when he did it actually!

"I know he's commented on it since but yeah it was a small thing, but I think those small things are really important.

"I wouldn't insist everybody does that, but you take things on board like that don't you?"

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