Everton right-back Seamus Coleman has backed Jordan Pickford to make a huge impression with the England national side at the summer World Cup. The Toffees shot-stopper was picked alongside Jack Butland and Nick Pope for the role between the sticks and he is widely expected to start for the Three Lions in their World Cup opener.
In a recent interview, Coleman praised the former Sunderland man after a strong debut season with the Toffees for which he has been rewarded with a World Cup spot, he said: “Jordan’s had an excellent first season at the Club and shown what a talented keeper he is. He signed for a big fee but has taken everything in his stride, got on with his job, and that shows the kind of character he is. It’s great for a defender to play in front of a goalkeeper with his talent and his form for Everton has been rewarded with England. If he gets the nod at the World Cup, I don’t think anyone connected with Everton will have any doubt that he’ll go out there and show what he’s capable of.”
Pickford and Butland have played out one friendly game apiece heading into the summer World Cup but Gareth Southgate has already hinted that the former would remain the first-choice for the number one role. Nevertheless, the manager has the luxury of picking Butland or Pope if required with the duo coming off strong performances over the course of the 2017/18 season.
Judging by the initial games of the World Cup, the underdogs have certainly performed to the best of abilities with a couple of shocking results and England would surely be wary against a Tunisian side whom they know very little about. England begin their World Cup campaign versus the African nation before tackling Tunisia and Belgium in their group.
