The good news for Carl Rushworth this morning is that the Swansea City number one, on loan from Brighton is on the brink of a full England call up for the Euros this summer in Germany.

The Swans keeper has had a tremendous season overall, and his mistakes are extremely rare. In fact the best we have seen for some years. When we do highlight the odd error it just doesn’t feel right when reporting Swans games, he’s been that good. However, how did a Championship keeper in what has been the poorest Swansea City side for as long as some can remember under consideration by Gareth Southgate. Well, first off Southgate’s options beyond Jordan Pickford are injured, Sam Johnstone and Nick Pope won’t be available and Aaron Ramsdale is now Arsenal’s number two. The Under 21 set up doesn’t have a keeper that is as competent as Rushworth, James Trafford as an example is now down the pecking order at his club Burnley.

England managers have always favoured taking along a player who is clearly going to make it at the highest level, Theo Walcott is a good example. Sven-Goran Eriksson, named him as a seventeen year old for the 2006 World Cup. Manchester City’s Kian Noble another example this year. He turned seventeen two months ago. There are many other examples. However, there surely has to be a reason for this pretty surprising news ? Many people are aware that Martyn Margetson is the Swans goalkeeping coach. Far less outside of Swansea will be aware that he is also Gareth Southgate’s goalkeeping coach for England. We’ve covered this before but of course the news that filters through each day is quickly forgotten. Yesterday’s news and chip papers etc.

Rushworth who is twenty three in July was well advised when Brighton agreed for his release to Swansea this season. And the Swans have benefitted, he is yet to miss a game this campaign in the league. They knew that Margetson was going to be mentoring him, and of course he has the ear of Southgate. We know that he rates Rushworth as one of the best young keepers he has worked with in many years, and that has been drip fed through to Southgate. It’s clear that in conversation with each other that Margetson has put in more than a good word for Carl.

Martyn Margetson played top flight football in the nineties for Manchester City, making his debut at nineteen just before the switch to the Premier League we know today. He played fifty times for the Manchester club. And here’s a fact, he also played as a striker in the top division as well. Albeit for a matter of minutes, but he came on for City when he was the only sub left on the bench due to several on the pitch injuries.

He cleverly took his badges as his career came to an end, and a great supporter of Martyn back then was Sam Allardyce. He ensured the Neath born keeper was on his goalkeeping staff at Everton, and again when he took over at West Ham United. That type of coaching in the Premier League caught the eye of England later on.

The concern if there is one for Swansea City supporters will be this latest news will elevate Rushworth’s profile for next season. It isn’t breaking news that Swans Sporting Director, Paul Watson has some agreements in principle for Carl to return next season. Far bigger clubs will be interested, on loan or even permanently. Swans head coach, Luke Williams confirmed that Rushworth may well be at the Swans next season, and then went rather cagey on the subject a week later. However, there is an opportunity for him to come back, and he has enjoyed the regime at Swansea, especially with Margetson. He will become a Brighton player after May 31st this year.

If Carl does go to Germany, at this point it will be as a Brighton player. The EFL summer window opens on June 10th, so if the Swans want a named player in the England squad they would do well to rubber stamp Carl’s return for next season before that date. You would expect the club to have everything ready to go if that’s the case, then just the formalities ticked before the tournament opens. It’s very unlikely he will get a game, but it would be nice to see his name against his parent club and the Swans in June.

That would be a first for Swansea City, in fact, from our research a first for any Welsh club player in a major tournament for England - ever.

Photograph with permission Dimitris Legakis

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