Gareth Southgate is now set to hand Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale a rare start when England face Scotland at Hampden Park in an international friendly on Tuesday.
That is according to the Daily Mail, which notes that Southgate will make a handful of minor changes in Glasgow. The Three Lions manager is keen to avoid overly experimenting with his line-up against the Tartan Army. But Ramsdale is in line to replace Jordan Pickford in the net.
England travel to Scotland this Tuesday to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first official international football contest. The Tartan Army hosted the Three Lions in a 0-0 draw in 1872, the same score as their last meeting. Wembley held a goalless group stage tie for Euro 2020.
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Southgate is set to start Ramsdale for England vs Scotland
Southgate believes he would be foolish to use Tuesday’s friendly as a chance to experiment with his team. Both England and Scotland are on course to qualify for Euro 2024 as they top groups A and C. So, the Three Lions boss wants his first-choice XI to get more time together.
Yet Pickford will drop to England’s bench as Southgate looks to offer Ramsdale a rare start in Scotland. The friendly would only mark the 25-year-old’s fourth cap and his first appearance for the Three Lions in 14 months. Ramsdale has not played for his country since June 2022.
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Southgate has included Ramsdale in every England squad since he last used the Arsenal star in a defeat to Hungary. He conceded four goals during a shock Nations League defeat on the back of starting a 0-0 draw with Italy. Ramsdale made his debut in a 10-0 win in San Marino.
Pickford has started England’s last 10 fixtures, including each of their Euro 2024 qualifiers so far. While Nick Pope started the Three Lions’ Nations League fixtures with Italy and Germany in September 2022. Pickford missed the ties with an injury and Ramsdale was on the bench.
Ramsdale is facing a fight with Raya for his place at Arsenal
Now starting for England against Scotland could be huge for Ramsdale at the club level, too. While Mikel Arteta has called the goalkeeper ‘exceptional’, the Arsenal manager is mulling a change between the sticks, too. That is also according to reports by the Daily Mail last week.
It noted that Arteta is considering benching Ramsdale and starting David Raya when Arsenal face Everton this Sunday. The Spaniard is tempted to give his compatriot an extended run in the squad. He wants to see if Raya can replace the PFA Team of the Year member, Ramsdale.