Glenn Hoddle: Sam Johnstone has given Gareth Southgate headache for England squad
Glenn Hoddle has claimed that West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone has given Gareth Southgate a headache ahead of the England squad this month.
The Three Lions start their World Cup qualifiers in March, with games against San Marino, Albania and Poland at the end of the month.
Jordan Pickford was dragged off injury over the weekend, and Hoddle has thrown Johnstone’s name into the mix to replace him.
Writing in his Evening Standard column, Hoddle has claimed that Johnstone has a real opportunity of jumping into the upcoming Three Lions squad.
“Jordan Pickford might be injured and Gareth has got no real goalkeeper, apart from Pickford, that is ready to go in there and stay there,” he said.
“There is Nick Pope, there is Dean Henderson, I like the lad Sam Johnstone at West Brom. I think he is a really good goalkeeper. But that is the real headache.”
This is a no-brainer.
Pickford going off injured against Burnley over the weekend has opened the door to Johnstone, who has easily out-performed the Everton man this season.
No one has made more saves than the Baggies keeper in the Premier League this season according to WyScout, averaging more than four per outing.
Dean Henderson has only just started playing a handful of games for Manchester United, and Johnstone surely has the jump on him based on form.
Nick Pope will be likely to start for the Three Lions should Pickford be injured, but Southgate surely has to reward Johnstone for his fine form in what has been a shocking season for the rest of the squad.
In other West Brom news, Big Sam confirms two games for Baggies over upcoming break