England U21 boss backs Aaron Ramsdale to overcome 'tough' start with Sheffield United

Ramsdale, who returned to Bramall Lane from relegated AFC Bournemouth for £18.5m in the summer, is yet to keep a clean sheet for the bottom-of-the-table Blades.

The 22-year-old will be rested for tonight’s final Euro 2021 qualifier against Albania at Molineux with Stoke City’s Josef Bursik, who is on loan at Doncaster Rovers, set to start - but Boothroyd insists Ramsdale is still his first choice man between the posts.

He said: “Joe is going to start he game but I spoke to Aaron at length and let me be clear he is our number one, on and off the pitch. He is a brilliant guy to have around.

“He has had a bit of a tough time at the minute but I’m sure him and his club will turn the corner.

“He has got exactly the right character, he is going to be a top goalkeeper and we are really lucky to have him.”

Boothroyd’s backing for Ramsdale comes after the goalkeeper was criticised for his performance in winless United’s 4-1 defeat at Chelsea in their final Premier League game before the international break on November 7.

But Blades boss Chris Wilder was quick to leap to the youngster’s defence, despite conceding he was to blame for one of the goals in the Blues loss.

"We had a young goalkeeper last season [Dean Henderson] who made mistakes and that's the road we're going down, so we have to stick with it,” he said.

"We're conceding some poor goals at the moment but he [Ramsdale] will come through it.

"He's a positive character and a very good young goalkeeper, playing in a team that's not doing too well at the minute."

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