ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate insisted all of his goalkeepers “have slightly different attributes” but refused to hint whether we would see any rotation in his net.

Saints stopper Fraser Forster received a late call-up last week to bring him back into the Three Lions squad for the first time in nearly six years.

The last of the 34-year-old’s six England caps came in an international friendly versus Australia, back in May 2016 – ahead of the European Championships in France, where he travelled but did not feature.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is yet to let Southgate down across any of his 43 caps for his country, and performed well across 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Switzerland on Saturday.

Daily Echo: England number one Jordan Pickford helped take Gareth Southgate's side to a World Cup semi-final and EURO final (Pic: PA)England number one Jordan Pickford helped take Gareth Southgate's side to a World Cup semi-final and EURO final (Pic: PA)

However, Burnley’s Nick Pope and Forster will both be hoping to get a chance to don the England shirt again, when Ivory Coast visit Wembley on Tuesday, March 29.

Asked if it is more difficult to rotate your goalkeeper than the rest of the XI, Southgate responded: “Well, it’s no different to any other position really, because the profiles of the players do alter.

“If we start with Harry Kane as a centre-forward he has certain attributes of coming to link the game, coming short to feet.

“If we play Ollie (Watkins), he is a player that is better running in behind defences and our players have to recognise those differences.”

Daily Echo: England manager Gareth Southgate (Pic: PA)England manager Gareth Southgate (Pic: PA)

He continued: “It’s the same with all the goalkeepers, they all have slightly different attributes that the more you know about your teammates will help you to have an understanding.

“The profile of the goalkeeper does change certain aspects of how you would like to play, but that is really the same on every position on the pitch.”

Forster, who has played the last 12 Premier League matches for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, had a stroke of fortune to get back into the England reckoning.

Daily Echo: Fraser Forster in England training (Pic: PA)Fraser Forster in England training (Pic: PA)

Both Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale and West Brom’s Sam Johnstone withdrew from the squad, to open up a place for the former Celtic giant.

Southgate could opt to give both Pope and Forster 45 minutes versus the African nation tomorrow, or allow Pickford to retain the shirt altogether.