World Cup: Southgate sees Everton’s snowmen melt at Burnley

Lowton was excellent throughout the game and won Man of the Match inside the stadium. For a right back to get that award speaks for how well his overall game was.

A constant threat going forward with some dangerous crosses and some really telling contributions defensively, notably stopping Sigurdsson from tapping in a cross for a certain goal in the second half.

Lowton’s cherry on his cake was the assist for the first goal, which was reminiscent of Kaka’s pass in the 2005 Champions League Final against Liverpool – Kevin de Bruyne would’ve been happy with it (Annoyingly, I’m watching the post-match commentary now and Thierry Henry has just made a comparison with De Bruyne, so it’ll seem like I nicked it.). It’s a shame that Kyle Walker is so nailed on as the starting right-back for England, because otherwise Southgate might have been stirred.

Arguably, the person most likely to go from Burnley to England will be Sean Dyche. Fortunately for Burnley, that won’t be in time for the World Cup. He is the sort of manager to take England by the scruff of the neck and give them back the identity and character that so many of the fans long for.

Dyche will have his own selection problem when Tom Heaton returns to full fitness, as Nik Pope has been nothing short of his equal as his stand-in.

Tom Heaton is probably the most frustrated of all the England hopefuls, as had he had built on his outstanding performances against the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season. Had the season Nik Pope has had, I don’t think there’d be much doubt he’d be England’s No.1.