GARETH SOUTHGATE has admitted he is facing a Euro 2024 goalkeeper crisis.
Everton keeper Jordan Pickford remains England No1 but Southgate is struggling for back up options.
Aaron Ramsdale has been confined to the Arsenal bench for six months, Nick Pope is out for the season and Sam Johnstone is struggling for game time at Crystal Palace.
So Southgate could turn to Jack Butland, who he dumped SIX years ago, for next month’s friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.
Rangers No 1 Butland, 30, earned the last of his nine England caps in the 1-0 friendly win over Switzerland in September 2018.
The keeper has earned rave reviews since moving to Ibrox on a free transfer from Palace last June.
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He made just ten Prem appearances in three years at Palace before spending the second half of last season on loan at Manchester United.
But the ex-Stoke man, has kept 19 clean sheets in all competitions this term as Rangers push to regain the Scottish crown.
Southgate admits his options behind Pickford have been compromised.
He said: “It is an issue for us and the situation is up in the air.
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“We have to make sure we’re watching everybody.
“Jack is included in that because he’s playing at a big club and is an experienced goalkeeper.
“It’s not an ideal situation with Aaron not playing, Sam at the moment not playing and Nick injured.
“We’ll have to see how that plays out.”
Southgate future
The FA want Southgate to stay on as England boss for the 2026 World Cup.
Southgate gave the strongest signal yet that he could lead the Three Lions beyond the Euros after Thursday’s Nations League draw in Paris.
The England manager had previously hinted he would step down following this summer’s finals in Germany but Wembley bosses are thrilled he may stay on for another two years.
Southgate, whose contract runs to December, insisted he would make a decision after this summer’s tournament.
FA chiefs have noted Southgate’s shift in position and are united in their belief he has been an outstanding success since replacing Sam Allardyce as an emergency caretaker in 2016.
By taking England to the Euro 2020 final plus a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final in his three major tournaments, Southgate has been the Three Lions’ most successful coach since World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey.
He has rebuilt the team’s relationship with fans and constructed the strongest squad mentality — led by skipper Harry Kane — in decades.
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The FA will not pressurise Southgate to make a decision before the summer and are aware that it will have to be his call.
But if Southgate fancies another run on the ultimate stage in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the Wembley hierarchy see no reason not to let him become the longest- serving England boss since Ramsey’s 11-year reign ended half a century ago.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
