GARETH SOUTHGATE has a goalkeeping selection headache on his hands ahead of England’s Nations League games.
The Three Lions boss has stuck with Jordan Pickford since the start of the 2018 World Cup but stats revealed today by SunSport show a change might be in order.
Burnley’s Nick Pope and Manchester United’s Dean Henderson – are the Everton stopper’s two main threats.
All three keepers were selected for England’s Nations League squad for the upcoming games against Iceland and Denmark.
And pressure is on Southgate to give someone else a shot between the sticks.
Pope, 28, was runner up in last season’s Premier League Golden Glove award with 15 clean sheets, just one behind the winner – Manchester City’s Ederson.
Henderson was two behind with 13 while Pickford only managed nine shut outs.
Pickford and Pope played all 38 Premier League games during 2019-20 campaign with Henderson playing 36.
And the under pressure Toffees keeper also conceded the most goals of the trio with 56 getting past him against Pope’s 50 and Henderson’s mere 33.
The stats only get worse for 26-year-old Pickford whose 94 saves from 150 shots on target faced give him the lowest save percentage of the three at 62.7 per cent.
Henderson tops the table with an impressive 74.2 per cent – four per cent higher than Pope’s 70.2.
And perhaps the most damning stat for Pickford is the errors leading to shots or goals column.
The Sunderland born keeper made six mistakes that put his club in trouble last season while Henderson was the safest option while on loan at Sheffield United with just one.
His solitary blunder at home to Liverpool handed the champions a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane last September.
Another stat that puts Pickford bottom of the pile is one that could be key to England – penalties.
Pickford’s finest moment in an England shirt was of course his penalty shootout performance during the Three Lions’ World Cup last-16 victory over Colombia in 2018.
But his record against spot-kicks in last season’s Prem was nowhere near as impressive.
Having faced four, he failed to save a single one as three went in and one was missed by the taker.
Henderson again takes the title on this one having let in just one of the three that were taken against him.
The 23-year-old managed to save one – the same amount as Pope – while one was missed by the taker.
While Burnley’s stopper let in the other four spot-kicks against him.
The upcoming games will be the ultimate test of Southgate’s loyalty to Pickford – especially with the Euros approaching next summer.
But the numbers suggest it is time for a change.
Reports on Wednesday suggested Southate will axe Pickford for Pope.
And you sense with Pope having more Premier League experience than Henderson and his edge on the stats that matter, it might be time for Burnley’s main man to get the nod for his country.
