{"id":482320,"date":"2025-10-08T07:04:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T07:04:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/482320\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T07:04:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T07:04:13","slug":"wolves-player-sets-sights-on-england-world-cup-place-after-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/482320\/","title":{"rendered":"Wolves player sets sights on England World Cup place after comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every player wants the chance to compete on the biggest stage, and one Wolves player thinks his return to form could help him get there. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The international break is upon us and things are quieting down around Wolves. 17 players have left for national team<\/a> duty, the most ever for the club. <\/p>\n

But not everyone has the honour of representing their country. <\/p>\n

One Englishman who has made his way back into contention under Vitor Pereira<\/a> is hoping to keep up the good performances and attract the attention of Thomas Tuchel ahead of next summer\u2019s competition. <\/p>\n

\"EnglandPhoto by Gareth Copley\/Getty ImagesSam Johnstone wants an England return <\/p>\n

Sam Johnstone<\/a> has been warming the bench for much of the last two seasons, but he has made his way back into the line-up to replace the struggling Jose Sa. <\/p>\n

Starting in net in Wolves\u2019 last two league games, Johnstone has been impressive<\/a>. <\/p>\n

But the 32-year-old isn\u2019t satisfied with winning minutes for his club. He, like every other prospective England player, has his sights set on a place in the World Cup squad next summer. <\/p>\n

\"SamPhoto by Clive Mason\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

As he explains (via E&S<\/a>): \u201cOf course. That\u2019s always on my mind. First and foremost, I had to get in the team here, then you have to perform, and then you have to get the games under your belt and keep performing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen hopefully that comes again because every squad I\u2019ve been in, I\u2019ve loved going and representing my country. I think every English goalkeeper that\u2019s playing, it\u2019ll be on their mind for next summer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnstone is right in his assessment. Every English keeper will want to get one of those three spots, and there\u2019s plenty of talent for him to contend with. <\/p>\n

Johnstone will have to be outstanding to jump ahead of current England options <\/p>\n

For this international break, Tuchel has picked Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford and James Trafford to take for clashes with Wales and Latvia. <\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udea8\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f \ud835\udc0e\ud835\udc05\ud835\udc05\ud835\udc08\ud835\udc02\ud835\udc08\ud835\udc00\ud835\udc0b | Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for matches vs Wales & Latvia. \u2705<\/p>\n

Goalkeepers: Henderson, Pickford, Trafford.<\/p>\n

Defenders: Burn, Guehi, James, Konsa, Lewis-Skelly, Quansah, Spence, Stones.<\/p>\n

Midfielders: Anderson, Gibbs-White, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Rice,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/GyXP0AHTJA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) October 3, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

Of those three, only Pickford has more caps than Johnstone\u2019s four, but there are other stoppers on the outside looking in as well. <\/p>\n

Newcastle\u2019s duo of Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale will be looking to do the same as the Wolves man. <\/p>\n

Trafford has yet to get a cap for England, and the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma means he will likely struggle for minutes at the Etihad. The same can be said for Ramsdale, who\u2019s second choice for Eddie Howe. So it feels like it could be a shootout with Pope to displace the young Man City keeper. <\/p>\n

If Johnstone can stay in the side and put together a string of solid performances, a place in the tournament squad isn\u2019t as far-fetched as it would have seemed just a few weeks ago. <\/p>\n