Honoured Pope dreams of World Cup with England

Manager Gareth Southgate selects Burnley goalkeeper for friendlies against Italy, Netherlands

BURTON-ON-TRENT: Nick Pope once had to get up at 4am to drive a milk float, now the Burnley goalkeeper is hoping his dreams of being England's number one at the World Cup are not disturbed.

Pope, 25, has worked his way up through England's football pyramid, playing in the fifth tier with Aldershot as recently as four seasons ago.

When released by his boyhood club Ipswich at 16, Pope felt "lower than a snake's belly", believing his dream of a professional career was over.

However, after restarting at Bury Town in the seventh-tier Isthmian League, Pope fought his way to the top via Charlton and a host of loan spells in the lower divisions before joining Burnley in 2016.

"Coming up through the leagues, some cold dark ones... you think the national team is too far away," he said at England's state-of-the-art St. George's Park training camp on Tuesday.

Pope wasn't even a regular with Burnley until Tom Heaton suffered a dislocated shoulder in September to hand him his top-flight debut.

Yet in just six months, Pope has kept 11 clean sheets to help Burnley up to seventh in the Premier League on a club-record 43 points with eight games still remaining.

"It's a big opportunity, it's one of the best moments of my life to be here," added Pope. "I want to prove myself amongst my peers that I'm here with now, and obviously the manager as well."

Once upon a time, England could rely upon goalkeeping greats like Peter Shilton, Gordon Banks and David Seaman at major international tournaments.

However, just three months out from the showpiece in Russia, manager Gareth Southgate has admitted "the number one jersey is up for grabs".

Long-time number one Joe Hart's place is under threat as he has featured in just one of West Ham's last 16 Premier League games.

Everton's Jordan Pickford and Stoke's Jack Butland also have more Premier League experience than Pope.

But he isn't content with just receiving a call-up he once believed impossible and wants to start England's World Cup opener against Tunisia on June 18.

"It's every man for himself. I want it to be me," Pope added. "It's a massive honour. To represent your country first of all, and go to a World Cup."

Pope isn't the only beneficiary of Burnley's fantastic season to gain international recognition as centre-back James Tarkowski is also included in the England squad for the first time.

"It's always an ambition but you need to get to a particular position just to be recognised as an English player," said Tarkowsi. "It wasn't until a few weeks into the season when I started to do okay and the club started to do well that I thought 'maybe I've got a chance here'."

Alonso ‘thrilled’ after Spain call-up

Marcos Alonso is keen to prove himself at international level after the Chelsea defender earned his first senior Spain call-up for the upcoming friendlies against Germany and Argentina.

The left-back, who joined Chelsea in 2016, has featured in 40 of the London side's 49 total fixtures this season, with his solid form rewarded by a place in coach Julen Lopetegui's 24-man squad.

The 27-year-old Alonso's last international appearance was for the Spanish under-19 team in 2009.

"Whether it's late or not, the important thing is that I'm here," Alonso told reporters on Tuesday. "My focus was on doing well at Chelsea and this was a welcome surprise. This is a reward for the work I've done in recent years... I'm thrilled and looking forward to this experience."

He added: “It's a chance to prove myself and for me to adapt quickly to the side, and hopefully, to return to the national team more times."

Spain will travel to face World Cup holders Germany in Duesseldorf on Friday before hosting Argentina at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Tuesday.