Pickford to face late fitness test ahead of Spurs FA Cup clash
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Jordan Pickford will face a late fitness test on an abdomen injury before the fifth round tie with Tottenham.
England’s number one has been missing for the Toffees last two games. Everton defeated Leeds 2-1 before getting a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford.
Pickford initially suffered the injury in the 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle in January after colliding with the post when attempting to make a save.
Whilst giving his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti also revealed James Rodriguez will be assessed before the game.
He said: “I have to wait for training this afternoon to check on some situations. One is James and the other is Jordan. They are going to train and after that, we will see.”
Fighting for number one
Pickford has seen his place in the Everton side come under question this season. The keeper joined for a then club-record fee of £30m from Sunderland in June 2017.
In his first four seasons on Merseyside, he played each of the 152 Premier League fixtures without any competition. In that time, England’s number one has kept 36 clean sheets.
This season he’s played in 17 of Everton’s games in the top-flight with the emergence of Robin Olsen. Pickford has kept just three clean sheets this term, and hasn’t played since the home defeat to Newcastle. He’d made a clanger just days before against Leicester and cost his side the win.
Ancelotti has backed Olsen in the last two games, but will have a decision to make against Spurs this evening. The big Swedish keeper had a good game in the win at Leeds and was deservedly handed an opportunity to play against United on Saturday.
However, he did concede three goals and would be particularly disappointed to have let in Bruno Fernandes’ long-range effort.
The boss has a very high standard of goalkeepers. He’s managed the likes of Casillas, Neuer, Cech and Buffon in his career, and will be more demanding of his keepers at Everton.
It will be interesting to see who he selects this evening, should Pickford pass the fitness test.
In other Everton news, Spurs boss Mourinho has praised Ancelotti ahead of the clash this evening.