Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope starts for England against Republic of Ireland at Wembley

The 28-year-old lines up behind former Clarets centre back Michael Keane, with long time teammate Jeff Hendrick, now with Newcastle United, starting for Ireland, with Robbie Brady and Kevin Long on the bench.

Pope started the 3-0 friendly win over Wales under the arch last month, and gets another chance to impress, although he accepts Jordan Pickford remains number one.

Pickford has started all bar one competitive England game since fixture since establishing himself ahead of the 2018 World Cup, with Pope earning another clean sheet in the 4-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win in Kosovo last November.

Pope said on Wednesday night: "I think it's fair to say he's number one at the minute.

"If you look at the last 25, 30 fixtures, he'd have played probably 28 of them. So, a person with that sort of record in the national team, I think, deserves to be called number one and has earned it.

"It's not happened overnight. It's happened over two, three years consistently playing for your country.

"So, I think it's fair to say he's number one at the minute, not to say that doesn't change whenever the time may be.

"For a goalkeeper, you've got to keep working and - like any player does - earn your right to be in the squad and fighting hard to make your way into the team."

Pope claimed 15 clean sheets for Burnley last season, only bettered by Manchester City’s Ederson with 16, and he has yet to concede for the Three Lions, although he hasn’t been significantly troubled in any of his four appearances, other than a fine stop from Wales’ Kieffer Moore last month, and he said: "I think I've done quite well for England in those three games.

"No goals is always a massive bonus for a goalkeeper and you can't ask for much more - but I don't think I've been overly tested in all the games either so I don't think I'm walking round thinking I'm the best goalkeeper in the world."

But he feels he can add to his game and push Pickford, and, asked what he needs to improve, he added: "A bit of everything to be honest.

"When you are second in line or third in line, your aspiration is to go up the spots. That is what it is like as a keeper and most positions.

"Keepers get more attention for that sort of thing. You have to be consistent for Burnley and England. This is an opportunity for myself to play with England players in an England team.

"It is important to play well in those games as Jordan has done for England for a couple of years. He has been top drawer."

Pope looks nailed on for a place in the squad for the European Championships, with England in line to play most of their games at Wembley, but he isn’t taking anything for granted:"There's pressure on every position in the squad as there is competition in every position and every player in this squad who's not made this squad will be looking at this summer as a home tournament and a massive opportunity to take part in a massive event.

"It's alive for us once, a once in a lifetime opportunity. The lads in the dressing room here, and I know the ones outside the squad as well, will be doing everything they can to make that final squad. The opportunity is something that won't come up again for anyone."