Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is on England’s radar.
Speaking after Jordan Pickford, Tom Heaton and Nick Pope were called up to the Three Lions’ latest squad, the England boss also confirmed that Woodman – currently on loan at Swansea – was one of several “exciting” young goalkeepers being watched closely.
Here’s what he’s had to say about his current goalkeeping department, naming the 22-year-old NUFC talent as one of the contenders:
Fellow English talents Henderson (Sheffield United), Gunn (Southampton) and Ramsdale (Bournemouth) were also mentioned, but a mention for Woodman shows just how much he’s impressing at Swansea.
He’s not only kept 3 clean sheets in 6 games, earned a few Man of the Match awards, saved a penalty to preserve their unbeaten start and helped them to reach the international break top of the second tier, but he’s also been named in WhoScored.Com’s Championship Team of the Month this week.
After a frustrating few years on Tyneside, it’s great to see Woodman showing what he can do at senior level. The big question is, what will we do with him if he returns next summer wanting first-team football at St James’ Park?
A welcome selection headache could be on the horizon, however it would be a good problem to have if we’re genuinely wondering if the England hopeful is better than Dubravka in a year’s time!
He’s still very young as goalkeepers go, but we must handle his contract situation very carefully now he’s impressing at Swansea – especially when Arsenal were credited with an interest prior to his loan move away.
