Everton goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has heaped praise on Jordan Pickford for his Euro 2020 campaign with England.
Kelly underlined Pickford's impressive tournament displays are a continuation of his fine form for Everton during the calendar year – declaring his belief the 27-year-old has risen to the responsibility of being one of the “main men" for Club and country.
“He's played a lot of football – particularly now at the highest level – and he has such a memory bank of situations he can call upon," Kelly told evertonfc.com.
“You're seeing the maturity in his performances and his game-management.
“We know how good he is with his feet and we know he can make match-winning saves.
“He's also accepted that responsibility of being the main man and being one of the top performers at the Club, when people look up to you, almost in a captain-type role. That responsibility sits very nicely with him now.
“I think that's one thing most people will have heard with games played behind-closed-doors – Jordan Pickford barking out instructions, trying to help the team before situations have developed.
“He's been fantastic in the Euros. I don't think that's a surprise to Evertonians because, since the turn of the year, his performances have been first-class.
“He's got that understanding of the game and he doesn't go looking for work. When the ball goes into his sphere, he deals with it, and he's done that fantastically well."
