Enjoy being pushed as it strives me on to be number one for England longer, admits Jordan Pickford

But while the Arsenal goalkeeper has earned regular call-ups since becoming the Gunners’ No 1, Pickford has continued to keep his place for England. Yet the questions and inquisitions continue as to whether he should be replaced but the England No 1 admitted that “there’s always going to be debate” and that he enjoys being pushed for his place. Pickford also added that “there’s always good competition and always will be” but he wants to keep pushing himself to get even better because of that.

"There's always going to be debate and someone challenging you for your position. It's about performing for club and country, but you always want to be getting pushed. I enjoy those challenges, it strives me on to be number one for England for longer. You want other people playing well and pushing, when we train together we're pushing each other to get better and when you've got three lads training at their best, it's working well,” Pickford said, reported Sky Sports.

“You've got to keep pushing yourself and setting yourself targets to get better and better. Aaron is a great lad, we get on really well and it's the same with Popey too, so we've got a good group together. I think since I've been in the system with England, there's always been good competition.