Conor Coady labels Everton teammate Jordan Pickford ‘absolutely incredible’ following recent criticism
Conor Coady has heaped praise on England and Everton teammate Jordan Pickford after the goalkeeper’s poor run of form for the Merseyside club.
The Toffees’ centre-back joined the club from Wolves during the summer transfer window and has proved a key cog in Everton’s defensive line ahead of Pickford.
Both players came under fire following back-to-back losses to Bournemouth on the south coast, in which Frank Lampard’s side shipped seven goals and netted just once.
Speaking at England’s World Cup press conference on Thursday 17 November, the defender outlined what an outstanding keeper Pickford was as he prepared for his third major tournament in between the sticks for The Three Lions.
He said: “He’s a top lad, and he brings so much. We see him as a shot-stopper, but as a person, he’s so, so good to have around as well.
“He’s been England number one for a while now, and I think he’s been absolutely outstanding this season, I really do.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in front of him. What he brings to us at Everton and when I played with him for England, I knew the quality he had, and I knew the sort of character he had as well.
“Now I get a chance to experience it day to day. He’s a great person and a great friend of mine too.”
Indispensable
Although many England fans have called upon Aaron Ramsdale or Nick Pope to be picked as England’s number one against Iran, Pickford hasn’t done too much wrong for either club or country in recent years.
He has proven himself as a reassuring presence under Gareth Southgate’s England regime, and when playing for his country, the goalkeeper is a different animal.
Famous heroics in penalty shoot-outs against both Columbia and Switzerland have made him indispensable in Southgate’s plans, so Coady is correct to praise the keeper in such a manner.
When relegation was looming for Everton last season, Pickford stepped up for his club, memorably producing a man-of-the-match display against Chelsea at Goodison Park.
There are moments in every season on which fate turns. For Everton, Pickford’s performance against The Blues was this.
The keeper deserves a whole heap of credit despite some recent shortcomings.
When the pressure’s on, Pickford always rises to the occasion