Jordan Pickford discusses his improvement and Sheffield United’s first goal last week

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Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford feels he is a better player this season and also that the first goal he conceded last weekend against Sheffield United should not have stood.

As per Sky Sports, the £100,000-a-week (Spotrac) England international says the result of the match would likely have been different if the referee had blown up for a foul on him.

He said: “It was a foul. I’ve watched the video back and it was a foul because one second my arm’s there ready for the punch, the next thing it’s been dragged because my body’s been barged. The game could be 0-0 at half-time, we build momentum and the result’s different.

“I’ve been decent playing out from the back but it’s about how to take things to the next level. I made a few mistakes last season but for me it’s about getting better. I’ve shown a lot more calmness. All I want is to be the best, and if I’m at my best then I’m helping the team.”

TBR’s View – Important for Pickford to avoid post World Cup hangover other England stars got

Pickford was elevated to national status in the summer of 2018, along with a host of other England stars, and by his own admission, made mistakes last term.

The likes of Kieran Trippier, Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard dropped off massively and while Pickford kept it in the middle of the road, the key for him is to kick on now.

How many of England’s World Cup stars have done that? Harry Kane and then Raheem Sterling, who was actually England’s worst starter out in Russia. Harry Maguire maybe, but Pickford needs to keep improving, because there are a host of English goalkeepers in the Premier League now, all itching to take his place.