GOOD MORNING FOOTBALL FANS,
SunSport’s Charlie Wyett has revealed that Jordan Pickford is sweating over his fitness ahead of Euro 2020.
The Everton keeper knows that he needs to be 100 per cent fit to be included in Gareth Southgate’s summer plans.
England’s number one keeper is still sidelined with an abdominal injury which saw him miss the three World Cup qualifiers.
Pickford is still not back in first-team training but hopes he could return to action later this month.
But the former Sunderland keeper is terrified that any setbacks could seriously harm his chances of being selected for the summer tournament.
Pickford, 27, has also suffered a number of niggling injuries throughout the season which he has played through which have affected his performances.
Meanwhile, Joe Cole is a surprise contender to become England Under-21 boss.
Current coach Aidy Boothroyd is set for the axe following the disastrous European Championship campaign.
England’s colts finished bottom of their group and Boothroyd then further damaged his chances of staying on by describing the role as an “utterly impossible job”.
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Cole, 39, obtained his Uefa A licence a year ago and is passionate about making a move into management.
He is also passionate about our national team.
Since retiring as a player, Cole has worked as a coach in the academy of his old club.
He has also been to England’s HQ at St George’s Park to study training sessions and give talks to youth players.
Cole’s old Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard and current QPR boss Mark Warburton have also been touted as possible successors to Boothroyd.
And finally, Ole Gunnar Solskajer is agonising over who to make his number one goalkeeper in the final Premier League run-in.
Dean Henderson has enjoyed a run of six games while David De Gea was given time off for the birth of his first child.
Solskjaer said: “It’s difficult to leave one of them out. It’s easy to give the nod they’ll play, it’s difficult to leave one out. Where there can be potential tension and controversy, everyone wants to hear a comment from me.
“They are both top goalkeepers and both of them want to play as much as possible. But who we pick will be decided on merit and we have to think of who’s going give us a win on any given day.
“Both will be needed in these final nine league games and five in the Europa League because we want to go all the way in that.”