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Southampton: Wait for McCarthy’s England debut goes on

By Marc Walker

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Jack Butland and Alex McCarthy of England walk onto the pitch ahead of an England training session at St Georges Park on September 7, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: Jack Butland and Alex McCarthy of England walk onto the pitch ahead of an England training session at St Georges Park on September 7, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will have to wait to make his England debut after he was left on the bench for his country’s 1-0 win over Switzerland.

Stoke City shot-stopper Jack Butland played the full 90 minutes as Jordan Pickford made way for the friendly at the King Power Stadium, with Southampton’s McCarthy and Fulham’s Marcus Bettinelli also left as substitutes.

It took England a while to get going in the match and they wouldn’t break the deadlock until early in the second-half. Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford bagged his second international goal in a week to give Gareth Southgate’s side victory after three defeats.

Following this game and their 2-1 defeat in the UEFA Nations League to Spain, the players will now return to their clubs for matchday five of the Premier League.

McCarthy will be wanting to maintain his current form to try and impress ahead of the next international break in a months time when England play both Spain and Croatia.

Next. Armstrong comes off the bench in Scotland win. dark

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace shoots and misses as the ball is saved by Alex McCarthy of Southampton during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on September 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace shoots and misses as the ball is saved by Alex McCarthy of Southampton during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on September 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /

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Not being picked for this clash will surely have been disappointing for the 28-year-old.

His call-up came after some excellent displays for Saints over the past year, and his comments after joining up with the England squad hinted at his hunger to get his first cap.

He has been called-up twice before now and not played so will be frustrated, but training intensively with some of the best goalkeepers in the country will have also been another great experience for him.

An international debut did come in tonight’s game for Leicester’s Ben Chilwell and perhaps hints at Southgate’s willingness to pick on club form.

Saints’ next game will provide him with an opportunity for McCarthy to put disappointment behind him. They face Brighton at St Mary’s on Monday looking for their third consecutive win in all competitions but a first in front of their home crowd.

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