Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 6y

Wilshere not fit for England, Pickford to start vs. Netherlands - Southgate

Jack Wilshere will miss England's friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam after aggravating a knee injury in training with Gareth Southgate's squad.

The England manager also confirmed thatĀ Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will start in goal against the Dutch.

The Arsenal midfielder had been expected to win his first cap on Friday since playing in the Euro 2016 defeat against Iceland almost two years ago.

But Southgate has admitted that the player has stayed behind in England in a bid to recover in time to face Italy at Wembley next Tuesday.

"It's Jack's knee, but nothing too serious," Southgate said. "We could have brought him here, but wanted to let it settle, so have decided to keep him at our base.

"We left him there and hopefully it will settle down [in time to play on Tuesday].

"It has settled down very quickly in the past. It is just loading. Tendons sometimes flare up and they just need to settle down for a couple of days.

"He was disappointed to pull out of training, but it's an ongoing issue that is managed and something that just needs to settle down.

"But after his last couple of years, Jack is progressing really well."

^ Back to Top ^