Norwich City number one Angus Gunn has been handed a shock first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s injury-hit England squad for Tuesday’s Wembley friendly with Brazil.
The 21-year-old stopper has been an ever-present for the Canaries in the EFL Championship so far this season, since returning to his boyhood club for a season’s loan from Premier League leaders Manchester City.
And Gunn’s performances – plus those with England’s Under-21 set-up under Aidy Boothroyd – have impressed enough to see Southgate give City’s number one the call, immediately following the seniors’ goalless draw with Germany at Wembley on Friday evening and in the wake of Jack Butland’s withdrawal through injury.
“We’ll definitely call-up Angus following the injury to Jack,” confirmed Southgate. “Then we’ll have a look and assess what’s required.
“It would be a good experience for a couple of the Under-21s to have a few days with the seniors, and to be involved against Brazil would be a brilliant experience. A no brainer.
“I’ll find out who played well tonight and warrants the decision, and then liaise with Aidy (Boothroyd) and go from there.”
Stoke goalkeeper Butland broke a finger in training ahead of the Germany friendly, making him one of seven withdrawals from the full England squad and leaving him to face up to six weeks on the sidelines.
Everton stopper Jordan Pickford got the nod ahead of West Ham’s Joe Hart for Friday’s friendly but now Angus Gunn is set to join the mix, having kept a clean sheet for the Under-21s on Friday afternoon as they won their European Championship qualifier 2-0 in Ukraine – where City team-mate James Maddison made his international debut.
While his legendary father Bryan was a full Scotland international earning six caps, Norwich-born Angus has always had eyes for England.
Gunn had not made a single appearance in senior football before joining the Canaries, since when he has played 19 times in league and cup – keeping a total of seven clean sheets and a club-record five successive blanks in the process.
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