PICKFORD FOCUS IS ON GOODISON ...NOT HIS RIVALS

JORDAN PICKFORD accepts that his status as England’s No.1 keeper will come under threat if Everton are relegated.

The Toffees are involved in another scrap to save their Premier League lives, while his international rivals Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope are battling for Champions League qualification with Arsenal and Newcastle respectively.

But Pickford, 29, has just signed a new contract that will keep him at Goodison for the next four-and-ahalf years.

And he admitted: “I’ve just got to focus on myself.

“Aaron is having a top season at Arsenal, going for the title, while Newcastle are fifth, so they could be in the Champions League as well. “It’s important that Everton stay in the Premier League, so I’ve got to put my focus on that. I can only think about being the best I can be. “We’ve got a good set of lads with England. It’s like a keepers’ union – and I like seeing them all doing well. “It’s nice to see the trust the manager has put in me, but my form over the last three years has been really good.” Pickford added: “Everything is geared for Everton to go in the right direction. “Obviously, last year it was tight and this year seems to be about all the teams from 12th to 20th. We’ve started getting a bit of momentum. It’s three games unbeaten, a draw at Chelsea. “But, going forward, the training ground is a top facility, the new stadium looks like an amazing project. “Fingers crossed, we’ll get out of trouble again this year so that we can keep building as a group, going forward.”