Jordan Pickford heaped praised on fearless teenage debutant Rio Ngumoha as England’s World Cup preparations offered an exciting glimpse of the future.
Saturday’s unremarkable 1-0 friendly win against New Zealand in Tampa was a moment to cherish for the 17-year-old Liverpool talent, having become the national team’s fifth-youngest debutant.
Training squad member Ngumoha showed some promising moments as he stepped up, with right wingers Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke absent after Arsenal’s players were given time off after last weekend’s Champions League final.
Long-serving England goalkeeper Pickford said of the teenager: “He was quality, nothing fazed him.
“He’s had a really good season at Liverpool and the manager gave him his debut and he showed how good he is.
“All the young lads have been brilliant in training, they have moulded into the squad and helped us massively and it also shows the talent we have in the system.
“It is a credit to the academies and the pathway we have in English football.”
Josh King and Ethan Nwaneri, both 19, are other training group players along with 22-year-old Alex Scott, who will all be hoping to follow Ngumoha by making their England debuts in Wednesday’s friendly against Costa Rica.
That fixture offers manager Thomas Tuchel a final chance to fine-tune ahead of England’s Group L opener against Croatia on June 17, when Pickford will start as number one at a fifth-straight major tournament.
“I take a lot of pride in it,” the England shot-stopper said. “There have been a lot of keepers challenging along the way and I credit myself for improving week-in week-out at Everton.
“I always give myself targets to improve and there is nothing better than putting the England shirt on. Everyone knows how passionate I am and that is immense pride for me and my family.”
Pickford has seen a lot of players come and go during that time, with Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire among the most eye-catching exclusions from this summer’s World Cup squad.
“Every squad evolves,” he said. “Even 2018, my first World Cup, we were six or seven or maybe eight at our first tournament.
“It’s unfortunate for the lads that don’t get picked but I’m not the manager and don’t have to make those decisions.
“I put myself in contention and work hard like everyone else but the competition is there with England. The manager picks the final squad and we believe in the manager.
“We know we have to work hard and that is what we are doing.”
England made the 200-mile trip back to their West Palm Beach base – having beaten New Zealand – as World Cup preparations continue at a more laidback pace than when they move to Kansas City next weekend.
“The manager has been quite open in this camp,” Pickford added.
“We’re here to train but we have downtime if people want to see families or they want to go to the shops or for a meal or to play golf, like I like to do.
“Once we get to Kansas we know it’s game on. This 10-day block is about getting work in your legs, messages into our legs and when we get to Kansas we’ll be ready.”
