Jordan Pickford unfazed by criticism from Neville and Keane

By Ally Darlow

Everton’s Jordan Pickford will be used to receiving criticism.

Not only is he Everton’s number 1, but he’s also Gareth Southgate’s preferred choice for England.

Being the England goalkeeper comes with its share of trouble, though, and Gary Neville and Roy Keane have both criticised Pickford in the past.

Ahead of England’s trip to Poland tonight, Pickford has fired back at his critics.

“Let them talk! It’s noise. And I feel like I’ve got my job to do, they’ve got their job to do,” he said.

“I’m focused on doing everything I can on the training pitch like always, giving 100 percent, always improving, trying to get that one or two percent better each time, keeping clean sheets.

“I think if they are still making noise then it’s a good thing really. For me, it’s just performing on the pitch and not getting distracted by any of that.” (Liverpool Echo).

The 27-year-old could also break a 55-year old record tonight.

Should England keep a clean-sheet with Pickford in goal then he will have kept 12 clean sheets in the calendar year, besting the 11 clean sheets kept by England in 1966.

That certainly is some feat and it would be another step on his way to becoming even more irreplaceable in the England starting XI.

Over the course of the Euros we only saw England ship two goals, in the 2-1 win over Denmark and the 1-1 draw before penalties with Italy.

That certainly is impressive and, if the errors that are often made by Pickford for Everton can be cut out of his game, the critics will certainly be forced to find new things to criticise.

Regardless of what people say about him, the Everton star will continue to improve and add to his game to become a better player.