JORDAN’S PICK OF BUNCH
SAM ALLARDYCE reckons Jordan Pickford is in pole position to be England’s World Cup No.1. Goalkeeper Pickford (left) has played all 30 of Everton’s Premier League games this season ahead of today’s trip to Stoke. He has kept seven clean sheets in a struggling Toffees side that has changed manager once. In a season that has never really got going for Everton, the £30m summer signing from Sunderland has been one of the few positives. England boss Gareth Southgate this week called up Pickford as one of four goalkeepers for World Cup warm-up matches against Holland and Italy.
And Allardyce says he deserves to be in the side ahead of Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Nick Pope.
The Everton boss said: “I rate his chances very, very highly, in terms of his England career.
“Whether that is enough to get Gareth Southgate to choose him as his No.1 only time will tell.
“But certainly in terms of what he has done this year, compared to the people he is competing against, he has played every single game and played exceptionally well. He has been our most consistent player.
“At 23 and coming to as big a club as Everton is and playing to the level he has done on a consistent basis shows that age means nothing for him.
“He believes in what he is and I think that he will grow and get better from here on in.
“Playing at the highest level and making critical saves in periods when you have needed to get a result, he has been there for us.
‘‘He made the odd mistake, like every keeper does, but they have been few and far between.”
Everton’s France international Morgan Schneiderlin is fit and available to return today.
He has not played since he was booed off by Everton fans when substituted during their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last month.
Schneiderlin’s attitude has been questioned by Everton supporters but Allardyce says he will pick him on form and not fan reaction.
Allardyce added: “It’s been a bit of a struggle to see the Morgan we all know, and he has to overcome that spell of not performing to the level we know that he’s got inside him.
“I pick Morgan on form. I have to pick him on what I see and what I believe he is capable of.”