VOLGOGRAD: David Seaman was the last England goalkeeper to start two successive World Cups: against Tunisia in 1998 and then against Sweden in 2002. That demonstrates how what was once England’s strongest position has become one of its most uncertain over the past decade.

Jordan Pickford wants to put that right. The Everton goalkeeper has been handed the No1 shirt by manager Gareth Southgate and will face Tunisia tomorow, just as did Seaman against the same opposition in France 20 years ago.

Pickford has earned the right with his recent performances, notably on his debut in the goalless Wembley draw with Germany last November. His closest rival is Jack Butland but the Stoke man has been handicapped by injuries and Pickford is the better goalkeeper with his feet.

Yet Pickford, though he has played for England at all levels from under-16, did not make his Premier League debut until he was 22. David Moyes was the manager who selected him for Sunderland away to Southampton two years ago. Pickford made a bad start. He let a shot slip through his hands to gift Saints a late equaliser at St Mary’s. But, as Moyes recalled this past week, “he didn’t make another mistake all season – not a single one.”

Pickford is England’s youngest ever World Cup No1 but not inexperienced at international pressure after going to the World Under-17s in Mexico in 2011 and last year’s European Under-21s.

He said: “The only way you are going to get more experience in World Cups or European Championships is by actually playing in them. At some time you have got to play in your first one. So why not now? I cannot wait. My debut at Wembley against Germany was sold out, a 90,000 crowd. That was new to me but I embraced it and used that atmosphere to make me better.”

Pickford’s rise illustrates the quiet Southgate revolution of prioritising players who have come up through the Football Association youth system and fit an identified playing style. So, no place for Joe Hart with his 75 caps, not even in the squad.

Everton made Pickford the most expensive English goalkeeper in history by paying Sunderland £25m for him last summer and he ended his first Goodison Park campaign as the club’s player of the season.

Manuel Neuer and David De Gea are his heroes. Neuer for his sweeper-keeper style and De Gea for his (usual!) shot-stopping qualities. Pickford also knows about learning from his mistakes. At the Under-17 World Cup he became the only player in a FIFA tournament ever to concede a goal by a fellow goalkeeper, when he let in a kick out from Canada’s Quillan Roberts.

Pickford, on being reminded of his misjudgment, said: “That won’t happen this time, don’t worry.”

Not worrying about the goalkeeper would make a change for England.

####################