Fulham keeper Bettinelli gets England call-up

Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has been drafted into the England squad.

Bettinelli, 26, is a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Uefa Nations League clash with Spain and friendly against Switzerland.

He was part of the Under-21s set-up when Southgate was in charge, heading to the European Championships with them in 2015.

Bettinelli won just one cap for the Young Lions and started the last two Premier League matches for Slavisa Jokanovic’s promoted side, having failed to make the first two squads.

Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland and the uncapped Alex McCarthy trained with Southgate’s squad at St George’s Park on Tuesday, with the England boss explaining the maiden senior call-up for the former Chelsea youngster.

“All of our goalkeepers have been modified one way or another with their training,” he said.

“We felt it useful to bring another goalkeeper in for training. Marcus is another player we have worked with in the Under-21s in the past.

“We obviously have a situation in the Premier League at the moment where there aren’t many English goalkeepers playing.

“Marcus is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and fits that prototype of goalkeeper and there is no point in us calling up a senior goalkeeper who has worked with us in the past just for training. So it is a good opportunity for Marcus.”