Burnley's Nick Pope named in England squad for UEFA Nations League games

Gareth Southgate has named Clarets keeper Nick Pope in his squad for the UEFA Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark.
Nick Pope applauds the fans after the 4-0 win in KosovoNick Pope applauds the fans after the 4-0 win in Kosovo
Nick Pope applauds the fans after the 4-0 win in Kosovo

However, there is again no place for centre back James Tarkowski, one of the best-performing English centre backs in the Premier League last season.

In his first squad for 10 months, since the 4-0 win in Kosovo in November - where Pope made his first start for the Three Lions - Southgate named a 24-strong panel for the fixtures at the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium, Reykjavík on September 5th, and Parken Stadium, Copenhagen on the 8th.

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Pope earned his second cap in Pristina, and he and Dean Henderson will hope to have put sufficient pressure on number one Jordan Pickford to give Southgate something of a selction dilemma in goal.

Looking at Sky Sports' Power Rankings from last season, Pope edged out Henderson, with Pickford's performances placing him below Aaron Ramsdale, Alex McCarthy and Ben Foster.

And Tarkowski was ranked, alongside Harry Maguire, in the top two English centre backs.

But Tarkowski, with two caps for his country, has missed out, with Maguire, former Clarets team mate Michael Keane, Joe Gomez, Tyrone Mings and Eric Dier named ahead of him.

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Keane is one of three former Clarets named, with Kieran Trippier of Atletico Madrid and Danny Ings of Southampton selected.

The squad is: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Kieran Trippier (Atlético Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Phil Foden (Manchester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur)

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Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Danny Ings (Southampton), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

Burnley boss Sean Dyche felt Pope, Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil had a good case for being in the squad, saying last month: “I’ve never got in the way of Gareth choosing his side when I speak to him. Would I offer the obvious that Popey is playing very well? Yes.

“James Tarkowski is also playing very well. Dwight McNeil too. Dwight is getting towards playing a full season in the Premier League at 20 years old after playing half a season last year. He’s hardly missed a minute to be fair to the lad.

“So there are certainly three I’d say are playing well enough to be considered."

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Dyche is aware of the direction Southate wants to take England, using youth, pace and technical ability, and feels the aforementioned trio all fit into the current planning: “The obvious one is long-term form. I think consistency as well. Generally to be involved as an England player you have to keep your level of form high.

“I think Tarky is getting there. I’m enjoying his consistency.

"Popey is definitely getting there with his consistency and Dwight, as a young player, he just keeps those games rolling and he keeps going out there and delivering.

“I just think he should be on the back burner if not thought about around the group.

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"For any of those guys I’m not saying anything more than they should be in the thinking. I’m not saying they should definitely be starting or be in the squad. I’d like to think they are at least in a pool of players who are in the thinking.”