England players jet off for Holland friendly without crocked Jack Wilshere

Mar 22, 2018

ENGLAND jetted off for their Holland friendly without Jack Wilshere but with Jordan Pickford guaranteed to start in goal.

Injury-plagued Arsenal midfielder Wilshere was left behind due to knee pain – after being called up for the first time in two years.

Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana get on board for the England friendly in Holland

And Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has told Everton keeper Pickford, 23, he has won the nod ahead of Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Nick Pope – at least in Amsterdam.

Meanwhile, Liverpool anchorman Jordan Henderson clambered onto the plane in red trainers – standing out after Southgate made him skipper for Friday night’s clash.

Frontman Marcus Rashford looked buoyant – understandably so after regaining a regular starting role for Manchester United.

Club-mate Jesse LIngard matched that grin – again, perhaps, a reflection of his recent run of form and starts under Old Trafford chief Jose Mourinho.

Jesse Lingard and Ashley Young stroll out to the plane, heading for Amsterdam

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Boarding next to him was another United star Ashley Young, who wore a black cap, headphones and a far more serious expression.

But most of the focus around England today was on the man whose Three Lions return had stalled before take off.

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Wilshere had welcomed his comeback with the words: “I never gave up hope that I could do it again… I’ve always felt it’s somewhere that I belong.”

But 24 hours later Southgate revealed the latest setback for the 26-year-old.

The manager, though, did sound optimistic for the playmaker’s future.

Gareth Southgate shows who is the boss as England prepare to jet out to Holland

Southgate said: “Jack felt some pain in his knee, a problem he has had before.

“Nothing too serious. We had the option to bring him here and let it settle or keep him back at base.

“We decided to leave him there and hopefully the next few days it will settle down.

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“It is a tendon area that over time flares up and needs to settle down. He was disappointed.

And on his choice between the sticks, Southgate said: “Jordan Pickford will play in goal tomorrow night.

“He is a very agile goalkeeper, quick around his goals.

Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford and Manchester City centre-back John Stones are next to board

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“He is capable of making big saves, his distribution is excellent – a really outstanding distributor of the ball with his feet which is how we want to play.

“It is a great opportunity for him. He played really well against Germany in November and it’s a good chance for us to see him in another international game.”