Southgate backing Pickford to stay focused
GARETH SOUTHGATE doesn’t have any concerns over goalkeeper Jordan Pickford being distracted by the points deduction crisis at his club Everton.
Pickford declined interview requests after England’s win against Malta on Friday, shouting ‘I wonder what you want to talk about’ as he walked past reporters, but Southgate was happy to back his No1 whose form has kept Everton in the Premier League for the past two seasons during fierce relegation battles.
Despite showing improvement this year under Sean Dyche, Everton are back to 19th in the table after being deducted 10 points by the Premier League for breaching financial rules, and face compensation claims from rivals. Everton are appealing the decision.
‘I haven’t spoken to Jordan about it but he has coped really well with a couple of really difficult seasons at Everton where they’ve been in the lower reaches of the league,’
said Southgate. ‘If the ultimate decision is like it was today — and I assume there will be some sort of appeal — then it’s a scenario he’s been through.
‘Jordan has been a really important player for us. The rest is speculative, so we’ll just have to see.’
Pickford has been Southgate’s first-choice goalkeeper for six years despite not being at a club with European football.
His penalty shoot-out heroics against Colombia in 2018 cemented his place in English World Cup folklore and he also reached the final of Euro 2020.
Another England star with club struggles is Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who has scored only once in the Premier League this season.
Southgate believes their long association has helped the forward to continue to relish his international breaks.
‘Marcus has been normal with us. I think he enjoys his football with us,’ said Southgate. ‘He’s been as chatty as always. I have obviously worked with him since the Under-21s so we go back a long way.’