Back in the 1980s, Alan Kelly senior was Neville Southall’s goalkeeper coach at Everton, now his son Alan Kelly junior puts Jordan Pickford through his paces on a daily basis.
Southall was widely-regarded as the best player in the world in his position during his time with the Blues but while some moments were tougher than others – he got more than his fair share of stick after his half-time sit-down gesture at Goodison Park – Kelly acknowledges that as England number one, Everton’s current keeper is subject to a brighter glare from the spotlight than anyone else.
After helping Gareth Southgate’s side to back-to-back victories in their opening European Championship qualifiers (2-1 v Italy in Naples and then 2-0 against Ukraine at Wembley), taking his international caps tally to 52, Pickford will now return to Finch Farm to prepare for next week’s fixture at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
