Jordan Pickford has hailed the quality of Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers after they emerged as key players for England under Thomas Tuchel.
Anderson was handed his first senior call-up last month after impressing for Lee Carsley’s England Under-21s in their European Championship-winning team over the summer.
He has since played all three games and is beginning to forge a strong partnership in midfield with Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Rogers was handed his England debut by Carsley when the former Republic of Ireland international was caretaker head coach last November.
He played nine straight matches after making his debut in the 3-0 Nations League win over Greece that month, and will earn his tenth cap if he plays in Latvia.
“Elliot has been terrific, and Morgan as well,” said Pickford. “Elliot in the last two games has been just getting on the ball, the half-turn. But the defensive side of it as well, which not many people will see.
“For the lads at the back, with him in front of you, he’s always getting back, screening the centre-forward. He breaks up the play well.
“You saw Morgan in the Serbia game. And getting his first goal against Wales the other night was a massive moment for him. Hopefully we’ll see many more.
“Elliot went to the Euros with the Under-21s and won it. It just shows the pathway, coming into the seniors and feeling confident. We let the football do the talking because we’ve got that good environment.”
Pickford is close to an England landmark himself. After setting a new record of eight consecutive England clean-sheets in Thursday’s win over Wales, he will earn his 80th cap for his country when he starts in Riga on Tuesday night.
“I think it just shows the hard work I’ve put in, day in, day out. I always try to improve myself,” he said on Monday, shortly after it was reported he has agreed a new four-year contract at his club side Everton.
“I just want to keep improving. I’m 31 now, still young for a keeper! I want to keep pushing myself to see where I can get to.
“Everyone knows what I’m like — a team player. I’ll take credit sometimes, but it’s a team sport. It will be great to get qualification done and top the group tomorrow night.”
