Youth coach proud of ‘incredible’ Everton ace Jordan Pickford in Gareth Southgate message
Kevin Ball was a major figure in Jordan Pickford’s early career and he has since risen to become Everton and England number one.
The 28-year-old appears all set to once again get the nod between the sticks when the Three Lions kick off their 2022 World Cup campaign against Iran on Monday (21 November).
Ball could not hide his sheer pride at seeing how far the Washington-born man has come having been upset by the abuse thrown at him by Newcastle fans in the Toffees’ recent game at St James’ Park.
“There’s a reason why he’s England’s number one keeper and that’s because he’s got incredible mental resilience,” Ball said to i News.
“It must have been unbelievably tough for him going through his career. I went to watch him at Newcastle. I went to see what he’s like.
“I won’t say I felt sorry for him getting that abuse – I’ve had it, not to the degree he has – but I would say I was unbelievably proud of his focus. I’m sure if they’d have won the game he’d have wanted to walk off and give everyone two fingers but he kept it together.
“If you’re Gareth Southgate, goalkeeper is the last of your worries with Jordan.”
Bring it home
If England are to emulate the success of 1966 in Qatar, they will need the Everton superstar to be on his absolute best form when it comes to the knockout stages of the competition.
In theory, Southgate’s side should be able to coast through the group stages with Wales and Iran considerably below their level and the United States there for the taking too.
But after what should be a simple route past the Group A runners-up in the round of 16, France or Denmark could await in the quarter-final and that’s where Southgate needs his shot-stopper to properly turn up.
Everything suggests that he will as well having been an integral part of the previous World Cup in Russia and the run to the Euro 2020 final with some critical saves, some of which were in penalty shootouts.
The return of Premier League football after Christmas could easily see a national hero in goal for Everton.