Former Lincoln City loanee Carl Rushworth is reportedly in line for an unexpected England call-up, according to a report in the Mirror.
Rushworth is currently on loan at Championship outfit Swansea City from Brighton and Hove Albion and hasn’t missed a minute of league action this season.
The shot-stopper has kept nine clean sheets this season and has been in excellent form for the Swans. He is reportedly in line to win the Swansea Player of the Year award and his fine performances have not gone unnoticed by the national team.
England goalkeeper coach Martyn Margetson is Rushworth’s coach at the Welsh side and a call-up to the Euro 24 squad is a distinct possibility for the 22-year-old.
Rushworth’s chances have been improved further by the struggles being endured by those who would normally take the backup role to England’s number-one Jordan Pickford.
Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal has had to make do playing second fiddle to David Raya while Newcastle United’s Nick Pope has been out injured since December.
Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone is out for the season while Burnley’s 21-year-old James Trafford, the man who has often kept Rushworth out of the England Under 21 goal, has lost his place at the Premier League strugglers.
These issues have led to the former Lincoln City loan star rising up the pecking order for potential involvement in the squad that heads to Germany.
Before this spell at the Swansea.com Stadium, Rushworth excelled during temporary spells with Walsall in League Two and Lincoln City in League One, keeping 19 clean sheets for the latter last season.
Writer’s View
Carl Rushworth is an excellent goalkeeper. He has superb reflexes and is incredibly calm and assured when playing the ball out with his feet.
England manager Gareth Southgate will, if they are fit, take Pickford and Ramsdale as his first-choice pair. This is regardless of the Arsenal keeper not playing regular minutes.
The injuries and loss of starting places to the other English goalkeepers do create an interesting opportunity for Rushworth to join the squad as the third keeper.
It will be interesting to see whether Rushworth is given a call-up during the pre-tournament friendlies in the first week of June.
