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Mark Schwarzer gives his verdict on the battle to be England's World Cup goalkeeper

Jack Butland, Joe Hart, Jordan Pickford - England goalkeepers

The battle to be England's starting goalkeeper at the World Cup is set to intensify when Gareth Southgate's side face friendlies against Netherlands and Italy.

"Clearly the number one jersey is up for grabs," Southgate said when naming his squad for the internationals at Wembley on March 23 and 27.

Joe Hart, Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope are the names in contention after being named in the latest squad, but who should start at the World Cup?

We asked former Bradford, Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea and Leicester goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who was a guest on Goals on Sunday, for his verdict on the decision facing Southgate.

Here's what the ex-Australia international, who played in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups for his country, had to say on Hart, Butland, Pickford, Pope and the battle for the Three Lions' number one jersey...

Hart? Butland? Pickford? It's a very difficult decision for Gareth Southgate...

MS: "As things currently stand it's a very difficult decision for Southgate. Hart played for West Ham against Burnley in their last game and it was a really difficult game to play in.

Joe Hart looks dejected after West Ham's 4-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park
Image: Hart played in West Ham's 3-0 defeat to Burnley

"The players were heavily affected by the fans getting onto the pitch. He made a mistake for the last goal but at that stage the game had already gone. It's still a mistake though and after being out for so long he would have liked to have finished the match in a situation where he couldn't have done anything about the goals. For the last one he'll be big enough to say that was his mistake.

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"Then you look at the other candidates and there are Butland and Pickford. At the moment those two guys have to be in the running because Joe's only played one game since November. The games at the end of the month are going to be crucial for Southgate.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the International Friendly match at Wembley Stadium, London.
Image: Pickford has won one cap for England

"Reading in between the lines and looking at the situation, I think it's going to be more of a case of him giving Butland and Pickford the chance to stake a claim in those games because they are playing week in, week out.

"He could play one of them in each of the games against Holland and Italy. Joe will be there but Southgate knows what Hart can produce. As to whether he starts at the World Cup or not it will come down to how many games he gets between now and the end of the season."

England's goalkeepers
England's goalkeepers

Who should Gareth Southgate take to the World Cup?

Do you have any reservations about Pickford's inexperience?

MS: "He's still a very inexperienced goalkeeper. He's still very young and got so much to learn.

"To be fair he's had a baptism of fire at both Sunderland and Everton. He was cannon fodder at Sunderland and to a certain extent he's been the same at Everton this season. Naturally, he's going to stand out because of the sheer number of shots on goal he's had to deal with.

Jordan Pickford - Burnley v Everton
Image: Pickford has made 30 appearances for Everton since moving from Sunderland last summer

"Personally, I don't think he's quite ready to be England's number one. Butland has more experience in the Premier League but it really depends on how they perform now under the pressure of playing for England.

"It's an easy position to be in chasing someone for their position. When you are chasing a position there's less pressure on you as opposed to when the position is actually up for grabs. All of a sudden, you are actually going to be awarded the position based on your performance.

Jack Butland appears dejected after deflecting a Marc Albrighton cross into his own net
Image: Butland has a save percentage of 68 per cent for Stoke in the Premier League this season

"Therefore the two games coming up are going to be huge for Pickford and Butland to stake a claim. The pressure will suddenly mount though because they are no longer chasing. It's now a case of needing to perform every time they pull on that shirt and raising the bar because they'll have people snapping at their heels.

"That's a completely different scenario to be in. You'll only know about these guys and how they cope under that pressure once they are there. On the other hand, Joe Hart knows what it's like to chase and he knows what it's like to be number one. All in all I think he's done a good job when he's played for England."

Butland has experience of international tournaments. He's not played in a game at a major tournament but could the experience of being with the squad help him?

MS: "Having major tournament experience in terms of just being in and around it is beneficial, but nothing beats playing.

"That's because there's no sense of pressure and all you are doing is absorbing the atmosphere.

Jack Butland will start for England against Lithuania
Image: Butland has six England caps to his name

"He would have got a bit of an understanding of the pressures involved, however, when you are wearing that number one jersey in between the sticks everything relies on you.

"That is a very different scenario to be in because it's a very different pressure altogether. You'll only about these guys once they are put under this kind of pressure."

Is selecting Hart the easy option for Southgate?

MS: "If Hart plays between now and the end of the season and plays well then there's no decision to be made.

"Based on his previous performances and the potential good performances between now and the end of the season, he would warrant selection as England's first choice goalkeeper.

Joe Hart throws the ball during an England training session at St George's Park
Image: Hart is the most experienced of England's goalkeeper

"He's done nothing wrong in my opinion to lose that position.

"It's a big if though. There's still quite a few games to go this season but he has to play well. His performance against Burnley wasn't the best of starts but he's got eight games left and he has to perform."

Is it too late for someone like Nick Pope, who was named in the most recent squad, at Burnley?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26:  Nick Pope of Burnley in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford on
Image: Burnley's Nick Pope won his first call-up to England's latest squad

MS: "Not at all but it does depends on Hart's situation.

"It's the key to a lot of other goalkeepers and their chances, especially someone like Pope.

"He's in a position where he's had a good season. He's done really well and exceeded expectations in terms of his performance levels. He's just got to keep doing what he's doing at Burnley because he's got an outside chance of making it."

Is it helpful for the goalkeepers to know the decision on who will be the starting goalkeeper at the World Cup as soon as possible?

MS: "It certainly does, however, I don't think they will know this decision until after the upcoming friendlies.

"I just can't see Southgate making his mind up like that. It's not as clear as that because of Hart's situation, the experience he has and the type of goalkeeper he is. He's a top quality goalkeeper.

England manager Gareth Southgate during the team announcement at St George's Park on 15 March, 2018
Image: Gareth Southgate's England will face Tunisia, Panama and Belgium at the World Cup.

"Yes, he's had a bad run of form - there's no doubt about it. He knows that too but it's now up to him to dig deep and turn it around between now and the end of the season.

"It's going to be incredibly difficult to do that, not only because he's got to regain his confidence, play week in, week out and play well, but he's also playing in a team that's under an enormous amount of pressure.

"When you look at what's going on at West Ham at the moment on and off the field, it's going to be a mammoth challenge for him."

Verdict

MS: "I'd wait until the end of the season. There's enough time between the end of the season and the World Cup to decide who's going to be number one.

"It really does hang so much on the situation of Hart.

Joe Hart during an England media session at St Georges Park
Image: Joe Hart during an England media session at St Georges Park

"He's a top pro and a very good goalkeeper but he needs to rediscover his form to reclaim the England number one jersey.

"It's up to him as to whether he does that. In the pas, he's never really given the manager any reason not to pick him and it's up to him to now rediscover that form and perform to a high level until the end of the season to get on the plane and be England's number one."

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