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Lee Carsley admits he 'needs to look at different players' after dropping Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford was axed from the England team for their World Cup qualifier against Finland on Sunday night after his horror show against Greece - and Lee Carsley explained his decision

[John Stones, Jordan Pickford and Levi Colwill of England]

Jordan Pickford has been dropped(Image: Getty Images)

England gaffer Lee Carsley admitted he had his eyes set on playing Dean Henderson over Jordan Pickford for this international break.

Pickford found himself warming the bench as Crystal Palace's Henderson took the gloves for England's jaunt to Helsinki. Pickford, notably, waltzed out of the box and casually handed over possession with an open net behind him.

The Toffees' number one was saved from total humiliation thanks to Levi Colwill's heroic goal-line rescue act, but now he's got no choice but to sit out the Finland clash, watching Henderson step up for a shot at glory.

READ MORE: England fans slam Lee Carsley as he 'shoehorns' Trent Alexander-Arnold into side

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It's a golden opportunity for Henderson, who's only donned the England shirt once before, coming on as a sub in a 3-0 friendly thrashing of the Republic of Ireland back in 2020.

Despite social media and pundits laying into Pickford, Carsley insists his call was all about giving other keepers a whirl, claiming he always had plans to give Henderson a run-out.

[Lee Carsley speaks before England's game vs Finland in Helsinki]

Lee Carsley explained his decision(Image: ITV)

"There was a case of getting a look at a few different players and we were always going to get a look at Dean in one of the games," he dished to ITV before kick-off, reports the Mirror.

Pickford's been copping flak in the Premier League too, after a nightmare at Tottenham in August where he gifted Son Heung-min a dead easy finish, serving up the ball on a platter to the Spurs ace.

Roy Keane didn't hold back after the Finland flop, slamming the 30 year old for his blunder that "didn't send a good message" and insisting he's prone to errors.

"What's he doing? " Keane blasted. "Do it quickly. [It's] brilliant defending, very unlucky by Greece but a lovely message for defenders - never give it up. He chased it and did brilliant. But [it's] not a good message from Pickford to send. That [sort of mistake] will always be there with Pickford. He's not going to change now."

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