London (AFP) – Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been called into the England squad after Tom Heaton withdrew because of injury, the Football Association announced Sunday.
Pickford, who has made five Premier League appearances for northeast side Sunderland so far this season, had been due to join up with the England Under-21 squad
But instead the 22-year-old, who played for the Under-21s when England interim manager Gareth Southgate was in charge of the junior side, will join up with the senior squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier away to Slovenia on Tuesday.
Pickford is unlikely to be in the line-up or on the bench against Slovenia, with Joe Hart, between the posts for England’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Malta at Wembley on Saturday, and Fraser Forster ahead of him in the pecking order.
Burnley captain Heaton made his England debut against Australia at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in May.
