George Pickford owed apology at Everton as new loan deal agreed after being needlessly messed around
Everton have questions to answer over their treatment of George Pickford.
The 19-year-old signed a new deal at Hill Dickinson Stadium in February before completing a loan move to Southport.
He expressed his excitement about joining the National League North side as he went in search of first-team football away from L4.
That is exactly what the young keeper got as he featured across three 90-minute games, where he went unbeaten while conceding just two goals.
Despite that, Everton decided to recall him for injury cover before sending Pickford back out on loan in a bizarre turn of events.
George Pickford departs Everton on new loan
It was a surprise when the Blues decided to bring the teenager back to Merseyside after just three appearances in the National League North.
David Moyes’ side made the decision after Marc Travers suffered an injury and left the Toffees light in the goalkeeper area.
Tom King became the second choice option, but there was a lack of an option behind him, so the strange call was made to bring Pickford back.
That didn’t go down particularly well at Hill Dickinson, and that feeling doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better after the shot stopper was sent out on another loan deal.
Everton revealed on Friday that Pickford had returned to Southport on a short-term deal just days after his L4 return was confirmed.
Pickford owed apology at Everton
There was an element of risk in the squad when going without three goalkeepers, but was that worth hampering a young player’s career?
The answer is no.
Southport were left hampered but still managed to win their most recent outing against Radcliffe, a game in which Pickford could have started.
Instead, he watched on as Everton lost to Manchester United for no real reason and has now just been shipped back to the Sandgrounders anyway.
If the Toffees really have any respect for the teen keeper, they will make an apology, something which the 19-year-old will surely understand.
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