NICK Pope should be one of the three goalkeepers in the England squad for the World Cup this summer.

That is the view of goalkeeper-turned-writer and broadcaster David Preece, who has followed the 25-year-old's progress since watching him for Cambridge United during a loan spell in 2013.

But Preece, now an established commentator on the art of goalkeeping, said he was 'devastated' for Tom Heaton, who he believes but for injury could have been England's number one by now.

The Clarets captain dislocated his shoulder in September and although he is now back to full fitness he is set to find his way back into the Burnley side blocked by Pope, who has also taken his place in the Three Lions squad.

Pope has been with England over the past week for the win in Holland on Friday night and tonight's Wembley date with Italy, but he is in competition with Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and Joe Hart for a place on the plane to Russia.

"If you look at this season, him and Jordan Pickford are the two who should be vying for the number one spot on merit," Preece said of Pope.

"The fact he’s in the squad now tells you everything. I think he should be the third ‘keeper at the World Cup. Whether I think it will happen is a different matter, I think Joe will probably go.

"But it wouldn’t surprise me if Gareth gave him the opportunity to go for experience and to train with the squad through the tournament.

"You look at the way Nick has handled himself so far you wouldn't think this is going to faze him. The big difference with him, Jack and Jordan is that there’s no fear there."

Pope's rise has been remarkable, with the former Charlton Athletic stopper, who cost the Clarets just £1million in the summer of 2016, only featuring in his first Premier League game in September when injury struck for Heaton.

"I think he’s been tremendous. I saw him a while back when he was on loan at Cambridge from Charlton. I was really impressed with him," said Preece, a former Darlington, Aberdeen and Silkeborg goalkeeper who began his career at Sunderland.

"He was at Cambridge the same time that Jordan Pickford was at Alfreton.

"I’m good mates with the goalkeeping coach at Brighton, Ben Roberts, who took him to Charlton. He asked me to have a look at him and see how he was doing while he was at Cambridge.

"They were pretty similar in that the one thing I noticed about them is that despite being young goalkeepers they both came for a lot of crosses. They were pretty fearless in that respect. It was refreshing to see.

"This season, the biggest surprise is the way he’s handled the situation, not just the way he’s performed and the saves he’s made but his demeanour, he’s looked composed, that shows in one-v-one situations where he’s stayed very calm and that’s contributed to the saves he’s made. Out of all the English goalkeepers he’s been the outstanding candidate shot-stopping wise."

But for Heaton's injury Pope would still be an unknown quantity, sitting on the Burnley bench and nowhere near the England squad.

It was Heaton's misfortune that opened the door for Pope, but Preece has plenty of sympathy with Heaton, who has three caps to his name.

"But for injury it could be Tom Heaton who is (England) number one. I’m devastated for Tom, because his is a great story," he said.

"He’s someone who has had to work hard on his game. He’s had to take steps backwards to go forward again.

"His has been a gradual rise. He’s turned into a very good Premier League goalkeeper. He’s got a really good all-round game.

"I thought at the end of last season when we were going into the qualifying games in June that Tom should have been given his chance then.

"Although Joe had been playing regularly in Italy he wasn’t playing well at all and that showed in his performance with England. Tom was unfortunate not to get appearances in the qualifiers.

"Tom hasn’t got any weak points in his game, which is crucial. Because he hasn’t been in the Premier League for that long there hasn’t been a huge focus on him, there’s been time for him to make mistakes and learn from them."

With two excellent Premier League goalkeepers on their books, who both have England ambition, Sean Dyche is faced with a very difficult decision now Heaton is nearing a return to action.

Preece is quick to praise the role of goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer for the way both men have developed, but believes Pope should now keep the gloves until the end of the season.

"Tom is probably working as hard as anybody, he’ll be working like a beast in training and pushing Nick all the way," he said.

"It’s a difficult decision for Sean Dyche and he’s holding a lot of cards in terms of who goes to the World Cup as well.

"If Tom played the remainder of the season and plays brilliantly then that confuses things even more for Gareth Southgate.

"What he has to do is be fair to Nick Pope as well as his captain, and I’m sure if Tom put himself in Nick Pope’s position he wouldn’t expect to be dropped.

"In Sean’s head as long as he is happy with how Nick is performing he has to say he’s playing well enough to stay in the team, I’ve got to be honest with Nick, so Nick stays in for the rest of the season and give me a problem at the start of next season. Give me pre-season to judge who will start the first game of next season."