Tuchel says Jordan Pickford still first choice for England

England manager Thomas Tuchel has affirmed that Jordan Pickford remains the first-choice goalkeeper for the national team, despite the introduction of James Trafford into the squad during the recent autumn camp. Pickford, who has a remarkable 93 caps for England, has been the go-to goalkeeper since the 2018 World Cup, where he was initially named the first choice. However, Trafford has been performing well and has been given regular starts, which was Tuchel's intention from the start.

Tuchel emphasized that while competition exists within the team, as it does for outfield players, Pickford is still the preferred goalkeeper. He added that the goalkeepers form a close-knit unit and that the Nations League provides an opportunity to test out different lineups, especially in high-pressure situations. Tuchel explained that Trafford's inclusion in the Nations League matches against Spain was a way to ensure James gets valuable experience, especially if Pickford were to be injured or unavailable.

Despite the change in lineup, Pickford remains positive and understands the importance of the competition. Tuchel praised Pickford's reaction to the news, stating that he impressed him with his understanding and willingness to push Trafford. The England coach looks forward to speaking with the goalkeeper coach to determine the best approach moving forward, but for now, Pickford remains England's number one goalkeeper.