- Gary Neville has heaped praise on Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
- England’s No. 1 shot stopper has been the club’s starting man since 2017.
- Neville was a critic of Pickford, but admits his opinion has shifted.
Jordan Pickford has been one of Everton’s best players in recent seasons and is arguably the reason they remain a Premier League club.
Although his work has been pivotal for the Toffees, the England international has still received criticism in the past – even though he has registered top-tier stats as a goalkeeper.
Gary Neville was one pundit who had previously criticised Pickford for his performances over the years, but insists he has changed his mind on the Everton hero.
Gary Neville has changed his mind about Jordan Pickford
Speaking on Stick to Football, Neville explained he previously wouldn’t have wanted Pickford in his team, but over the years, he has been convinced otherwise.
He said: “I’ve changed my mind on him.
“Because I wasn’t having him in the beginning.
“I wasn’t having him. I didn’t think he had the concentration.”
Pickford enters this summer expecting to represent England as their starting goalkeeper for the fifth consecutive major tournament and is just 18 appearances away from becoming the 11th player to receive 100 caps for his country.
Jordan Pickford is entering his peak years
At the start of his Everton career, Pickford had a tendency to make clumsy mistakes, but Evertonians stuck by him and knew they had pure quality in between the sticks.
The criticism of the 32-year-old has puzzled a lot of Blues, as week after week, they see the phenomenal saves he makes.
Pickford has single-handedly gained points for Everton, whether it be a gutsy draw where his goal has been continuously peppered, or just an outstanding save that has kept his side in the lead.
His ability to make saves that are out of this world is spotlighted through the Premier League’s Save of the Month award.
| Jordan Pickford | 4 |
| Aaron Ramsdale | 3 |
| Andre Onana | 3 |
| David Raya | 3 |
Since the award was installed in the 2022-23 season, no keeper has won it more times than Pickford.
The Englishman has won the award twice this season after crucial saves against Manchester United in November and Newcastle United in February.
But outside of his plaudits from awards and pundits, Pickford knows he has the backing of the Everton fanbase, who deeply cherish the fact that they have a world-class keeper.
As the Toffees look to build a new legacy in the years ahead, Pickford will be a key man behind writing a success story for the Blues.
