SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has tonight been called into the England squad for the first time after Tom Heaton withdrew due to injury.

The 22-year-old from Washington, who has made five Premier League appearances for the Black Cats this season, has previously won nine England Under-21 caps under Gareth Southgate.

The Football Association announced Pickford had been summoned into the contingent who will face Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.

Pickford had previously been named in the Under-21 squad for the Euro qualifier against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The keeper has come through the ranks at Sunderland and has had several spells out on loan to gain experience, making his first senior appearance for Darlington against Fleetwood in January 2012.

He made 17 appearances as a teenager for Quakers having been brough to the club during Craig Liddle's spell as manager.

Since then he has had loan spells with Alfreton, Burton, Carlisle, Bradford and Preston, before finally making his Black Cats debut in January this year under Sam Allardyce.

Burnley’s official account called Heaton’s injury “minor”. The 30-year-old Clarets captain made his senior England debut against Australia at the Stadium of Light in May.