England's goalkeeper dilemma

3. NICK POPE (Burnley, 25) :

Pope has been outstanding since Heaton's injury

Nick Pope has come a long way since his days as a college student playing part-time in the Isthmian League. Even then, he was destined for big things. If he carries on at his current rate of progress, the Burnley goalkeeper might just go to the World Cup. When he left Bury Town to join Charlton in 2011, the non-league club’s manager Richard Wilkins told him that he would be playing Premier League football within five years. The prediction was only just off the mark – it took Pope six years.

Pope did not forget that forecast, texting Wilkins after making his first Premier League start for Burnley at Liverpool in September. The 25-year-old, promoted to the starting XI after Tom Heaton dislocated a shoulder, has since then grabbed his chance with the agility of a good keeper. The England manager was at Turf Moor to witness Pope made an outstanding second-half save to deny Southampton. According to the Burnley forward, Ashley Barnes, “Yes, 100 per cent. Nick Pope has been our player of the season. He deserves to be on that next level, but of course that’s not our decision to make.”

PROS : Agile, Exceptional Reflex, Confident, Outstanding form.

CONS : Lack of international experience.