PICKFORD GIVES BOOT FANCY FOOTWORK

DON’T expect England’s Jordan Pickford to show any fancy footwork at Wembley tomorrow night.

It has become all the rage for keepers to demonstrate their ability with the ball and Pickford is up there with the best.

After all, it was his footballing ability which gave him the nod ahead of Jack Butland when Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate chose the Everton ace as his main man at the World Cup.

And Pickford vindicated Southgate’s decision, emerging as one of the top keepers at the tournament in Russia.

He’s guaranteed a warm welcome from a sell-out crowd when England launch their UEFA Nations League campaign against Spain.

But Pickford has no intention of stealing the limelight just for the sake of it. “It’s all about decision-making,” he said. “Doing it at the right times. I never put myself in too much risk. You don’t want to get too comfortable if you’re winning and start trying to be a No.10!

“For me, if it’s on, I’ll do it. If not, we’ll manage the game.”

So no chance of being caught out like Merseyside rival Alisson, whose clanger at Leicester last Saturday left Liverpool hanging on for the win.

Mistakes

Pickford said: “I’m not going to put myself in that position to make those mistakes.

“If it comes off, it looks good. If it doesn’t... it’s a style of play and that’s the way Liverpool want to play as well.

“Mistakes happen and it’s all about not making the next one. Not doing it again in the same game. Look at Ederson at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola puts a lot of faith in him and mistakes happen all over the pitch.

“The goalkeeping ones are the crucial ones and will get talked about a lot.”

Pickford, however, claims the modern trend is healthy and has improved keepers’ all-round game.

He said: “The quality of goalkeepers is good. You have to be good at using your feet and it’s something I am good at.”

The 24-year-old former Sunderland star has represented England at every age group and has always performed as a sweeper behind his defence.

That is what Southgate demands of his goalies and it is something Pickford has grown up with at international level – though not during his loan stints at clubs such as Alfreton, Darlington and Burton.

System

He added: “In the lower leagues, you’re not going to be playing out from the back. You’re going to hit it long and get the second ball.

“But being through the England set-up since I was a young lad, that was always the style of football.

“The gaffer has been in the system. I remember seeing him at the Under-17 Euros. So it’s always been part of the England way for me.”

Now firmly recognised as the Three Lions’ No.1, Pickford has no intention of resting on his laurels.

He’s determined to take his World Cup form into the next batch of matches.

“I always said you only get one opportunity at this level and you have to take it,” he said.

“Hopefully that is what I did at the World Cup but now I have to kick on.”