World Cup 2018: Jordan Pickford yet to learn whether he is England's No 1 goalkeeper in Russia

Pickford was handed the No 1 shirt when England’s squad numbers were announced last week

Jordan Pickford is yet to learn whether he will start against Tunisia (Getty)

Jordan Pickford is yet to be told whether he will be Gareth Southgate's first-choice goalkeeper at World Cup ahead of England's opener against Tunisia on Monday.

Pickford was handed the No 1 shirt when England’s squad numbers were announced last week and the Everton ‘keeper is expected to start in Volgograd in four days’ time.

Goalkeeper, however, is one of England’s problem positions. Pickford remains relatively untested at international level, with just three caps to his name, and there is little to separate him and Jack Butland, his main rival for the starting spot.

Butland played England’s final warm-up friendly, a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica last Thursday, and did nothing to harm his chances. Pickford, meanwhile, has received no assurances that he will play from Southgate.

Asked whether he had been made England’s official ‘No 1’, Pickford said: “No, not yet. Obviously getting the No 1 jersey is massive but I’ve not been given the actual nod yet.

“I still have to train well but hopefully, playing on Saturday [against Nigeria, in England’s first pre-tournament friendly] has put me in pole position. There is still a lot to do before the first game.”

Sunderland-born Pickford knows squad numbers are not everything. He has the No 19 shirt of another son of the North East, Paul Gascoigne, who would turn out to be England’s most influential player at the 1990 World Cup.

Even so, he believes the No 1 jersey holds a special place for goalkeepers and hopes it is an indication that he has won his manager’s trust.

“It may be different with other countries but yes, it means a lot to wear the actual No 1. It certainly feels a bit more positive on my part. Hopefully it means I do get the nod. I feel I am ready to be No 1 and I don’t think I have done anything wrong not to get it.

“Every chance I’ve had, I’ve grabbed the chance to wear the No 1 shirt. When I was out on loan, it may not have been available. While at Sunderland, I was No 13 which I’d worn since I was 18, so it proved to be a decent number for me.

“In a way, I’d have been quite happy to have been given No 13 but as I say, I’m over the moon to be given No 1. You can’t get away from the fact it means a lot to have it and be top of the pile.”

Pickford will hope that a good showing at this World Cup is the start of a long and successful international career.

Much is expected of the 24-year-old, the fourth most-expensive goalkeeper of all time following his £30m move to Everton last summer, and he hopes he will soon be able to compare himself to those he considers the world's best - Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Spain’s David de Gea.

“Neuer is one I really admire because he plays the goalkeeping role in his own way,” he said. “You have got to play it your own way but he takes it to the next level the way he plays.

“De Gea has been unbelievable for the last two or three seasons and in my book is probably the best in the world at the minute. They’re the ones who have got experience but I think that it is only my second season in the Premier League."

Pickford added: “It took De Gea a while and I don’t think it has taken me that long to get to this level. I am always learning and always wanting to improve.”