Jordan not an automatic Pick HENDO’S EURO BID
JORDAN PICKFORD’S recent outburst to the media was more worrying than it was remarkable.
The fact he’d just committed another glaring blunder in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate at Goodison Park didn’t help his state of mind.
The man who became a national hero at the World Cup 18 months ago now feels like people have it in for him. Hate him, even.
“The press and everybody, the punters, they just want to come for England players,” said Everton keeper Pickford.
“Everyone gets stick. That’s part of being an England player. You have to live with it, you’ve got to learn.
“You just keep it away from your head as the only person who can sort things out is yourself on the pitch and in training.
“Every England player gets stick. Some get a lot more praise than others. Look at Joe Hart when he was No 1. He got pelters every week.
“Everyone hates you. I just get on with it. I know what I’m capable of and I know what I’m good at.”
Fair play to Pickford for being open and honest but this unprompted rant proves that he is struggling to deal with the criticism that has now infested his head.
Goalkeeping can be a lonely world and people like Pickford have to go to dark places sometimes.
He remains a top keeper but the glaring truth is that for the first time in a long while Pickford now has someone to challenge him at international level.
The rapid rise of Manchester
United keeper Dean Henderson, on loan at Sheffield United, is now in danger of leaving Southgate in a right old pickle ahead of this summer’s Euro 2020. Since 2017 Pickford has been his undisputed No.1. Despite some high-profile mistakes, Southgate has stood by him.
But the England boss must now be questioning if this remains the case heading into next month’s friendlies against Italy and Denmark at Wembley.
Henderson will be included in England’s next squad and will not be going along for the ride.
He is ambitious and wants the No.1 spot ahead of what could be a huge summer for England.
Southgate will be keen to assess Pickford’s mental state and damaged confidence but has to wonder if Henderson might just be his best bet heading into the tournament.
Pickford will be 26 next month and has won 24 caps. He is no longer a novice but continues to perform like one from time to time.
The Everton keeper has become so unreliable he’s even letting Christian Benteke score against him. The Palace forward got his first goal in 10 months when he struck through Pickford.
It’s a big call for Southgate but he’s proved before he’s not afraid to make them and while Henderson is uncapped and would be a risk, we should remember Pickford had made just three appearances before heading to Russia in June 2018.
He rose to the challenge, so why couldn’t Henderson? We need to feel like our chances in Europe are in safe hands.