Former Everton skipper Kevin Campbell believes Jordan Pickford deserves to remain as England’s number one ahead of the World Cup but he must mature.
Pickford has won 45 caps for England since his debut in 2017. In that time, despite often receiving criticism, he has kept 21 clean sheets and conceded just 34 goals. The Everton keeper was crucial in England’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi finals and the delayed European Championship final last summer.
During the most recent set of England internationals when Gareth Southgate's side struggled in their Nations League fixtures against Hungary, Italy and Germany, Pickford was rested for the final two games.
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Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale deputised in his place and despite shipping four goals in the embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Hungary, the Gunners keeper received backing to displace Pickford ahead of the World Cup on the back of an impressive season for Arsenal.
However, Campbell believes this is unfair on Pickford although he does think that the Everton No.1 creates problems for himself.
“I think everyone knows he’s the number one, and obviously when you’re the number one you’re there to be shot at,” he told Goodison News.
“The thing is sometimes Jordan Pickford doesn’t help himself, with some of the antics he gets up to. Because he’s still young. But all the [England] keepers are pretty young. So for me, I just think Jordan Pickford, there’s a maturing that has to happen for him. And I think slowly but surely he’s doing it.
“But he hasn’t let England down and he’s still number one - possession is nine tenths of the law. And Aaron Ramsdale to be fair, he made a couple of good saves. With defending like that you’ve got no chance [during England’s 4-0 defeat to Hungary], I mean let’s be honest.”
And despite a demoralising international break for England, which saw ugly scenes during the defeat to Hungary at Molineux with fans openly revolting against Southgate, Campbell believes it is not the time the panic and the former Middlesbrough boss deserves patience.
He said: “England just looked off it. I can understand why, it’s no excuse but the time to peak isn’t now. The time to peak is November to December, that’s the time when you want everybody peaking.
“I understand people are losing their minds but when you really look at Gareth Southgate and what he’s done, he’s England’s second-most successful manager. Just think about that for a second. He’s got to the semi-final of a World Cup and he’s got to the final of a Euros.
“Cut him some slack.”
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