Tom Heaton called up to be the training goalkeeper for England Euro squad

In the end, England will have a fourth goalkeeper at the European Championship. In the squad for the tournament in Germany, Gareth Southgate had named Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) and Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), with James Trafford (Burnley) an unresolvable call-up when the manager had to trim the squad to 26 before the trip to Germany.

With the squad confirmed for the friendly against Iceland, the Three Lions suffered an unexpected defeat that the strategists hope will not dent the morale of the dressing room. To help restore the team's psychological boiling point, the Federation has announced that veteran Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 38, will travel to the tournament to provide training support for the trio of goalkeepers who will be able to take the field.

The Red Devil has not held a starting role in goal since the 2016-17 season, when, at the age of 30, he was at Burnley and made 36 starts out of 36 appearances. Since then, his career has ebbed and flowed, leading to a spell at Aston Villa where he has been largely overlooked for starting line-ups before bouncing back to Old Trafford where he is regarded more as a glory of the past.

In fact, his contract runs out on 30th June and it doesn't look as if Erik ten Hag is going to renew it. That does not mean, however, that Gareth Southgate has not asked him to lend him a hand at the European Championship. The star, on his social media, was delighted with the call. "Incredibly honoured, excited and can't wait to join the group," he wrote alongside a picture of himself in international kit.

 

June 10, 2024