EVERTON have suffered a major injury blow after goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was ruled out for a month.
The 28-year-old has suffered a thigh injury and looks set to miss crunch clashes with Arsenal and West Ham and faces a race against the clock to be fit for October’s showdowns with Southampton and Manchester United.
The former Sunderland stopper also looks certain to miss England’s upcoming Uefa Nations League games with Italy and Germany at the end of September.
He will have been hoping to cement his place as England’s first-choice keeper in the country’s final matches before the World Cup kicks-off in November.
Now in-form Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope will be looking to put pressure on Pickford if given the nod by Gareth Southgate.
However, the ace is expected to have fully recovered from the blow in time to head to Qatar.
Meanwhile, the news will come as a huge setback to Everton boss Frank Lampard.
Pickford has also been joined on the treatment table by third choice goalie Andy Lonergan.
That means that summer signing Asmir Begovic will provide cover.
However, with the upcoming international break and due to the length of the injuries, the Toffees are unlikely to bring in a free agent keeper.
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Pickford produced a fine display against Liverpool on Saturday to earn Everton a point in the goalless Merseyside derby.
However, he is believed to have played through the pain barrier with the problem troubling him for a number of weeks.
Everton head to the Emirates to take on the Gunners this Sunday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
