Jordan Pickford ‘could be out for six weeks’ as Everton goalkeeper faces battle to be fit for the Euros this summer… with Gareth Southgate sweating on the fitness of his No 1
- Jordan Pickford is facing a battle to be fit for the Euros this summer
- The Everton goalkeeper could be sidelined for six weeks with injury
- Pickford aggravated a recurring rib injury while playing for the Toffees last week
- It means Gareth Southgate is left sweating on his No 1 being fit in time
Jordan Pickford is reportedly facing six weeks on the sidelines, meaning he is in a race against time to be fit enough to make England’s squad for the Euros this summer.
The Everton goalkeeper aggravated a recurring rib injury in the Toffees’ defeat by Burnley last week and has been told to rest after returning too quickly when he first picked up the knock earlier this season.
According to The Sun, Pickford could be out until May, meaning he could only make a couple of appearances before the end of the season.
Jordan Pickford (left) is facing six weeks on the sidelines, leaving England boss Gareth Southgate (right) sweating on his No 1’s fitness ahead of the Euros
The Everton man is facing six weeks on the sidelines after aggravating a recurring rib injury
There has been much debate about who should start for England this summer but Gareth Southgate has maintained that Pickford is his No 1 choice.
That may change in the coming months if Pickford is to be watching on from the sidelines, and later this month Southgate will watch Nick Pope and Dean Henderson battling it out to stake a claim in the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifiers.
West Brom’s Sam Johnstone was called up as the third-choice keeper in Pickford’s absence.
Dean Henderson (left) and Nick Pope (right) will look to stake a claim for the No 1 spot during England’s qualifiers this month
It’s also bad news for Everton with Carlo Ancelotti’s side challenging for a place in Europe next season.
Second-choice keeper Robin Olsen is also suffering with an injury similar to Pickford’s, meaning the Toffees boss turned to Joao Virginia for the FA Cup clash with Manchester City on Saturday.
While the young shot-stopper put in a impressive performance at Goodison Park, Everton were undone by two late goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne.
Virigina’s only Premier League appearance came when he replaced Pickford as a sub against Burnley, while he was recalled from his loan spell with Championship side Reading last season due to a lack of game-time.
Joao Virginia is deputising for Pickford with second-choice Robin Olsen also out injured