Pickford vows he is 'only getting better' as Trafford threatens England No 1 spot

Jordan Pickford has insisted his best years as England’s number one are still to come, after Thomas Tuchel left him on the bench for the national side’s Nations League matches against Spain and Czechia in favour of Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford.

The Everton goalkeeper, 32, is set to return to the starting lineup for England’s upcoming fixtures against Croatia and the return leg against Czechia. But the spell out of the side marks the first serious challenge to his position since he established himself as first choice ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

“I’m 32 now, you see keepers playing still at 40, still playing at the highest level,” Pickford said. “It’s about me focusing on myself; I set myself my own goals. I want to push boundaries and keep improving and keep going to be the best version of myself. I’ll never stop until I stop. I’m not slowing down, I think I’m only getting better.”

Pickford acknowledged the bench role was unfamiliar territory but said he had embraced it with a positive attitude, focusing on supporting Trafford and maintaining his leadership presence within the squad.

“It is not often I do that,” he said of his bench-warming. “The manager told me the reasons why. It was good for me to see where I’m at. It’s about me being a good team-mate with good energy around the place and train well and have that leadership role. I think I’ve done it really well over the last two games.”

Pickford also credited the cohesion built within the England goalkeeping group over the past two years, pointing to Trafford’s strong start at Leeds as a factor in Tuchel’s decision.

“We have also been together in a cycle now for two years,” he said. “Trafford started really well for Leeds. It’s been a good unit around us for the last two years. That’s what the manager said and you have to respect that decision.”

At 32, Pickford remains one of the more experienced figures in Tuchel’s squad, and his response to being dropped will do little to suggest he intends to relinquish the shirt without a fight.