Jack Cork, Burnley Defence, England's Defence

[Paul Waine]

from The Times, Sport this morning:

Jack Cork spells out the case for Burnley defence to Gareth Southgate

Jack Cork has urged Gareth Southgate to pay close attention to the efforts of his Burnley team-mates as the England manager formulates his plans for next year’s World Cup finals.
Cork has attracted the attention of Southgate, who has attended three of Burnley’s past four home games, winning his first senior cap in the draw with Germany last month. The midfielder, though, believes Burnley’s defensive record this season — Saturday’s clean sheet was their ninth — reflects the contribution of others who could come into consideration.
Burnley were fortunate that Glenn Murray, the Brighton forward, missed a first-half penalty after being tripped by James Tarkowski, but they remain one of the division’s meanest defences. “It is everyone’s dream to play in a World Cup, and I would love to be involved,” said Cork.“But I’m sure there are a lot of other players in the same position.
“We just have to keep going and doing well as a team. Hopefully maybe not just me but five or six of our team who are English might have a chance. Especially in the back five, they have been superb all season. Look at the clean sheets. And to be fifth or whatever in the league, it is hard to ignore those defenders.”
Burnley’s English backline
Tom Heaton and Nick Pope Heaton, 31, has three senior caps to his name and has been a regular in the squad since first being called up in 2015. The goalkeeper’s season stalled when he dislocated a shoulder in September’s win against Crystal Palace but he is expected to return in mid-January. In Heaton’s place, Nick Pope has excelled, and Saturday’s clean sheet was his eighth in 14 Premier League starts.
Ben Mee The centre back, 28, was signed by Eddie Howe, then manager at Turf Moor, in 2012 from Manchester City where he had captained an FA Youth Cup winning side. Mee has never been called up to the senior squad.
James Tarkowski The 25-year-old rejected an approach by Poland earlier this season — he qualifies through his paternal grandfather — in the hope of winning an England call-up. Tarkowski, who arrived from Brentford in 2016, has cemented his place alongside Mee after Michael Keane’s summer move.
Matt Lowton The right back, signed from Aston Villa for about £1 million in 2015, returned to the bench at Brighton after a four-game absence with a knee injury. Like Tarkowski, the 28-year-old has never represented his country but is an asset going forward.

[Paul Waine]

Any news on Tom Heaton? Times report above says "he is expected to return in mid-January."

[Caernarfon_Claret]

If you count Palace where Pope was throw in at the deep end it's nine clean sheets in 15 games.
Liverpool 1
West Ham 1
City 3
Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 1
Leicester 1

Only games where he's conceded.

[Caernarfon_Claret]

Only two games where we've conceded more than 1 goal.

Chelsea and Man City away.

[Sidney1st]

Doesn't really matter what Pope or Heaton do, Hart will still be first choice.

[Foshiznik]

Angus Gunn was picked ahead of Pope. That's Southgate to a tee.

[MT03ALG]

I spoke briefly with Tom about 2 weeks ago. He said he hoped to be fit again in 6 weeks.

[jlup1980]

Angus Gunn was picked ahead of Pope. That's Southgate to a tee.

This sums him up completely. He had the option of calling up anyone and he chose to call up a young lad with no hope of playing for England at this stage of his career ahead of someone who is performing incredibly well in the Premier League week-in, week-out. Even if Pope isn't in your plans you'd still be tempted to take a look at him surely? Butland isn't playing very well, Forster has gone backward hugely in the past 18 months and Hart's been dropped by West Ham! It's not like we've got in form keepers all over the place is it!!

[JohnDearyMe]

I spoke briefly with Tom about 2 weeks ago. He said he hoped to be fit again in 6 weeks.

Great news

[Foshiznik]

This sums him up completely. He had the option of calling up anyone and he chose to call up a young lad with no hope of playing for England at this stage of his career ahead of someone who is performing incredibly well in the Premier League week-in, week-out. Even if Pope isn't in your plans you'd still be tempted to take a look at him surely? Butland isn't playing very well, Forster has gone backward hugely in the past 18 months and Hart's been dropped by West Ham! It's not like we've got in form keepers all over the place is it!!

Exactly. I've never rated Southgate since he picked our on loan flop striker Nathan Delfonueso (sp?) over our top scorer at the time Jay Rodriguez for the U21s.

[Lancasterclaret]

He's picking players from his U-21 squad.

I agree that it does seem weird that Pope wasn't considered, but there is method in his madness and its nice to see that they are at least trying to put a coherent long term strategy together.

[jlup1980]

Exactly. I've never rated Southgate since he picked our on loan flop striker Nathan Delfonueso (sp?) over our top scorer at the time Jay Rodriguez for the U21s.

Now that was ridiculous. If he'd asked any of us who was the better striker when we had both of them I imagine at least 99% would have said Jay Rod! Delfouneso was absolute garbage!!

[Tall Paul]

I spoke briefly with Tom about 2 weeks ago. He said he hoped to be fit again in 6 weeks.

Six weeks from then or six weeks from now?

[JTClaret]

Tarkowski turning down Poland in the hope of playing for England I thought was being very optimistic at the time... Now it's a very real possibility.
I'd love to see Mee get a call-up (obviously it'd be nice if they all did, but Mee's a cult hero in my eyes).

[MT03ALG]

I spoke with Tom at the Training Centre on 5 December so 6 weeks from that date.

[SalisburyClaret]

Tarka' s elbow will have dealt his International hopes a severe blow

[IanMcL]

For sure.

[Rick_Muller]

Tarka' s elbow will have dealt his International hopes a severe blow

Not so sure about that, he fits right in with Kane and Dele surely...?