After yet another incredible individual performance, Morgan Rogers is the man of the moment in terms of England stars.

Following two second-half goals, including a brilliant winner, in Aston Villa’s 3-2 comeback victory away to West Ham United last Sunday, he scored twice more to inspire his side to a 2-1 success against Manchester United at Villa Park. His first goal was a beautiful curled finish from the corner of the box — and his second from around 15 yards wasn’t too shabby either.

His form will whet the appetite of every England fan before the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer, as head coach Thomas Tuchel has so many attacking midfield options at his disposal. But The Athletic can’t write about Rogers every week.

Any overexcitement could be tempered by looking at Tuchel’s options at the other end of the pitch, though, especially in goal.

England’s front five may strike fear into any of the opponents they could face next summer, with even more backup firepower on the bench, but the defensive foundations may not be as strong for Tuchel.

That might appear a strange thing to write after a qualification campaign in which England didn’t concede a single goal — the only European side to boast such a defensive record — but when Tuchel’s side face the best teams deeper into the competition, their defensive options will be truly tested.

Barring injury, Everton’s Jordan Pickford looks certain to be Tuchel’s No 1. He has barely put a foot wrong since establishing himself with the national team under Gareth Southgate. 

The 31-year-old has won 81 caps and has the experience of the past two World Cups in Russia in Qatar, but Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson has been pushing him hard.

Thomas Tuchel’s goalkeeping options are limited (David Rogers/Getty Images)

Both have been ever-present for their clubs in the Premier League this season. Henderson has kept seven clean sheets to Pickford’s six in the league. Pickford has conceded one more goal (20 to 19) than the 28-year-old Henderson, who has won four caps.

According to Opta, Pickford has had more work to do, facing 224 shots and 65 on target, while Henderson has faced 192, 60 of which were on target.

Pickford has made 45 saves for a save percentage of 69.2, while Henderson has 41 saves and a percentage of 68.3. While Pickford has made two errors that have led directly to goals, Henderson has none, but the Palace goalkeeper has conceded three goals from outside the area to one from his counterpart. Pickford has made 13 saves from distance to Henderson’s nine.

What may be decisive for Tuchel, who appears to favour his goalkeeper being comfortable in possession and not afraid to advance from his box to clear danger, is that Pickford has recorded 20 sweeping actions covering his back line to Henderson’s four.

The pair look certain to occupy two squad spots, but who wins the race for the third is much more open — and Newcastle United will play a key role in the outcome.

Nick Pope is the favourite, despite a groin injury recently allowing his team-mate and former Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to get his career back on track after a chastening experience last season at Southampton, as they plummeted out of the Premier League, finishing bottom.

Nick Pope, left, and Aaron Ramsdale could be competing for club and international places (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Pope did not start the season in his best form, and some Newcastle fans were calling for Ramsdale to get a chance before the 33-year-old’s groin injury.

Pope, who has played 10 times for England, is due to return soon and has been a favourite of Eddie Howe, so it will be intriguing to see which way the head coach goes. Since Ramsdale came into the side, he has conceded nine goals in six appearances at an average of 1.5 per game and from just 16 shots on target. Pope had conceded 13 goals in his 12 starts and kept five clean sheets.

The alternatives are few and far between, with no other English goalkeeper playing regularly at Premier League level. 

James Trafford, 23, was in demand last summer and Newcastle were in for the Burnley ’keeper, but it was Manchester City who ultimately triggered his buy-back clause. He had been at City from the age of 12 until he was 20, but they paid what Burnley viewed as a British record £31million ($42m at current exchange rates) fee in total to take the goalkeeper back to the Etihad.

James Trafford’s Manchester City return has not gone to plan (Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)

After Ederson’s departure to Fenerbahce in the summer, Trafford may have thought his chance had come, but after just three Premier League starts, Pep Guardiola and City moved to bring in experienced Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain. Trafford, who has yet to play for England but was an under-21 regular, has been on the bench since, except for three Carabao Cup appearances and one in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen.

So, would Tuchel have to look outside the Premier League for the next in line? He could do a lot worse than heading to the top of the Championship for another option.

Coventry City’s Carl Rushworth, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, is enjoying a fantastic season. 

The 24-year-old, who has yet to make his Brighton debut, has kept eight clean sheets in 22 appearances for Coventry as they have stormed to the top of the table under former England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard. He has faced 85 shots on target and conceded 23 times, with a save percentage of 72.9.

He went 613 minutes without conceding a goal for Coventry — the longest run without conceding a goal of any goalkeeper in their history — and Lampard has talked up his chances of forcing his way into Tuchel’s thinking.

Should Tuchel suffer some setbacks with his Premier League options before the end of the season, Rushworth could be at the head of the queue as Coventry continue their push for a return to the top-flight for the first time since 2001.