Pickford welcomes competition from Trafford

WATCH Croatia v England and EVERY UEFA Nations League game LIVE on beIN SPORTS | Sign up here and save up to $60 on our Annual Pass Now | AU | NZ

Pickford has been England's first-choice goalkeeper since the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but Trafford has started in each of its UEFA Nations League matches during this international break, although the Everton shot-stopper could be back between the sticks when the Three Lions face Croatia on Sunday (AEST).

Pickford believes the competition will only help him grow as a goalkeeper, while insisting he has no immediate plans to retire.

"I feel for me personally it's always good to have good competition, I've always said in interviews I've always wanted that competition," Pickford said.

"We have a good crop of goalkeepers coming through and it's a credit to England to have that and may it continue for longer.

"I'll always push myself at the club to be the best version of me and keep getting those caps. You can't let your foot off the gas at any time you want to push yourself to be who you want to be.

"I'm 32 now, you see keepers playing still at 40, still playing at the highest level. It's about me focusing on myself; I set myself my own goals."

England has won its past eight away matches in all competitions – a win against Croatia would see it equal its record of nine away wins in a row between December 1965 and October 1967 under Sir Alf Ramsey.

Since beating England in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final, Croatia is winless in all four games against the Three Lions, losing three of those.

Pickford played in the FIFA World Cup defeat in 2018, but he believes England cannot rely on its recent success over Croatia.

"I think it's always a good competitive match, we know we lost in the 2018 World Cup against them," he added.

"But we are looking past recent history and we have always played well against them. You're always going to be against good competition at pot one in the Nations League; it's about being the best version of us."