Jordan Pickford: 'England putting hearts on line during 2018 World Cup'

Jordan Pickford has claimed that England will be putting their "hearts on the line" during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Three Lions have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Tunisia and Panama, with the two European nations deemed clear favourites to progress into the knockout stages.

However, England have struggled at major tournaments in recent years, with Gareth Southgate's selection of a relatively inexperienced 23-man squad also going some way towards lowering expectations.

Pickford is nonetheless adamant that England will be giving their all both in training and on the pitch, and stresses that the players cannot wait to get their campaign underway.

"We are putting our hearts on the line and we are going to be doing it in training as well - it's then a lot easier in the games," Everton stopper Pickford told BBC Sport.

"We are raring to go. There is that much ability in the squad and so many players fighting for places you can't afford to be slack for one day.

"It is not just about ability, it is about who works hardest, and we know as a team we all work hard and we have all got the top ability to go far in the tournament."

England begin their campaign against Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday, before facing Panama and Belgium in their other Group G ties.