Pickford can regain World Cup form, says Silva
MARCO SILVA has vowed to work with Jordan Pickford and help England’s No 1 regain the consistency that has gone missing from his performances. The Everton goalkeeper started the campaign in excellent form and had a number of big performances for club and country, not least in England’s Nations League qualifier against Spain in Seville last October. There have been moments, though, when the standards that saw Gareth Southgate turn to him before the World Cup have slipped and it was evident last weekend when Silva could be seen urging the 24-year-old to calm down during the 2-0 win over Bournemouth. Silva stopped short of saying a quick turnaround after going to Russia had left a mark but Everton’s head coach feels it is only natural that a dip would follow such a high. He has no doubt, however, that Pickford will regain his form. ‘He has had very, very good moments this season — the others not so good,’ Silva said of Pickford, whose form has suffered after his late error gifted Liverpool victory at Anfield. ‘Everything has come really fast to Jordan in his career in the last year and a half. ‘First because he has the quality to achieve that. He deserves it because he shows very, very good quality to become No 1 of the national team and fantastic World Cup also. In some moments he has not shown the consistency I want, he wants also. ‘But this is part of our job to give him this work to be more consistent.’ Similar sentiments apply to Ademola Lookman and the England Under-21 international will have another chance at Southampton today to show why Silva has been vindicated for picking him ahead of Theo Walcott. Lookman endured a difficult summer amid interest from RB Leipzig but Silva rates him. ‘I have believed in him since the first day,’ said Silva. ‘It is not a surprise he did what he did in the last game against Bournemouth. He has the conditions to do better but he needs games. ‘Everything I did to keep him at the club, when maybe some people did not believe in him, I did because I do believe in him. ‘It was tough to keep him. It is up to him to keep working hard. He has given a good performance and he can do better. Now it is up to me to improve his qualities.’