England manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed that he is keeping a close eye on Newcastle United loan star Freddie Woodman as one to watch.
The 22-year-old is spending the season on loan at Championship side Swansea City, who have raced to joint top of the second tier after an electric start.
Southgate name-checked the Magpies goalkeeper: “We have some exciting young ones [‘keepers] in [Dean] Henderson, [Angus] Gunn, [Aaron] Ramsdale who has started the season really well who we like…,” he said, via The Chronicle’s Twitter account.
“Woodman on loan at Swansea. So there is interesting depth and challenge coming.”
OPINION
Southgate was making a good point, here. After years without a real quality goalkeeper coming through – with even number one Jordan Pickford capable of moments of madness – it seems that the Three Lions do have some options between the sticks moving forward. Southgate namechecked a few, here. Henderson is clearly a tremendous prospect at Manchester United who excelled on loan with Sheffield United last season and once again this term. He is now experiencing Premier League football which will only be good for his development. Then there’s Gunn, who is the most experienced at the top level of any of the names Southgate mentioned. He is the first choice shot-stopper at Southampton and has been for a little while now. He is another with excellent potential. Ramsdale has come through this campaign, while Woodman is now getting first team football once again. For Newcastle fans, Southgate mentioning Woodman is confirmation of the talent they’ve long suspected the young ‘keeper has.
