Everton already have Jordan Pickford’s successor in the building as manager speaks out
Jordan Pickford has been a standout player for Everton in recent years.
Pickford has emerged as a superstar at Everton, taking and keeping hold of the Everton number one spot in his time on Merseyside.
Everton are set to retain Pickford’s services for the long-term future, as he looks likely to sign a new deal with the Hill Dickinson Stadium outfit.
However, eventually they will have to plan for the future without him, and they may already have a solution in their ranks.
Keith Southern speaks out after Douglass Lukjanciks exploits
Douglass Lukjanciks is one of Everton’s brightest prospects, and the 17-year-old continues to make waves at the academy level.
He was the star once again as the Blues Under-18 side drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough on 20 September in a U18 Premier League clash.
Lukjanciks saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet, despite the Toffees being reduced to nine men afte two dismissals.
Under-18s manager Keith Southern praised his stopper after the contest, saying: “I’m delighted for Doug. He showed really good character, and really good personality with a brilliant penalty save.
“Not only that but he made a few stops throughout and everything he did was really positive.”
Douglass Lukjanciks can be Jordan Pickford’s successor at Everton
One of Pickford‘s best attributes is his penalty saving, and that was on show in the second week of the Premier League, when he saved Danny Welbeck’s effort in the win over Brighton.
- Pickford has saved 10 of the 66 penalties that he has faced for club and country
- Only Lukas Fabianski (10) has saved more Premier League penalties than Pickford (8) since the 2017/18 season
- David James, Rob Green and Ben Foster are the only English goalkeepers with more penalty saves than Pickford in top-flight history
If Lukjanciks can emerge as an expert penalty stopper, then he will be waiting in the wings to take over from the Three Lions star.
He signed his first professional deal with the Blues last October, and has risen through the Toffees’ youth ranks after initially joining the Under-12s.
He recently made his England Under-19s debut, in a 3-3 draw against Spain in June, where Harrison Armstrong scored a late leveller.
Lukjanciks is one to watch, and David Moyes will have a close eye on his in the next few years.
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