Nigel Martyn believes Jordan Pickford is entering his prime and can remain England’s number one goalkeeper for ‘another five or six years’.
Pickford has spent almost a decade as England’s first-choice, with his 93 caps the 13th-highest total ever, and second-highest number of appearances by a goalkeeper.
Thomas Tuchel opted to experiment in goal during the last international break, as James Trafford was handed opportunities. The 24-year-old has impressed since signing for Leeds United in the summer, and is considered by many as Pickford’s long-term successor. However, Martyn said he did not see Trafford’s appearances last month as the start of a succession plan.
Speaking to ToffeeWeb for the Once a Blue podcast, ex-England goalkeeper Martyn discussed the competition between the goalkeepers from his former sides.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t see it like it was a case of trying to ease somebody else in,” he said.
“I think it was more a case of I’m going to get a better understanding of how he’s [Trafford] going to be as a goalkeeper by seeing him in two consecutive games and telling him, right, you are going to be playing in the next two games.
“Then you get a clear indication of what his capabilities are. Obviously, he knows what Jordan’s are because he’s played 90-odd caps and has done so well in those games. He knows he’s got somebody he can rely on who is, I still feel, the England number one goalkeeper.
“As a manager, you want that competition for places. I can understand the way he’s looked at it and the opportunities for James Trafford, but I still think he looks at Jordan as his number one, and Jordan’s form certainly would back that up completely. I think Pickford should stay number one for the foreseeable future. I don’t see any reason to change it.”
Pickford has been one of England’s most consistent performers across his international career, and has helped the Three Lions to two World Cup semi-finals and two European Championship finals.
The goalkeeper is set to turn 33 in March, but Martyn believes Pickford might only be entering his prime. He said he felt the most ‘comfortable’ in his career at a similar age, and has backed Pickford to remain England’s number one for ‘five or six years’, if he has the desire to do so.
“At the age that he is now, the next five or six years are probably where I felt most comfortable playing. You know, the older I got, the more comfortable I was with everything.
“He’s probably coming into his prime years. You don’t get somebody to this level [and move him on] in his prime. As long as the desire is there from him, and I see that, then he has another five or six years of Jordan [as number one], if he wants that.”
Read more – Thomas Tuchel comments offer little hope for Jarrad Branthwaite England minutes