Jordan Pickford will be hoping to earn his 60th England cap when the Three Lions take on Brazil and Belgium in the coming days.
The international break has probably come at the wrong time for Premier League managers. Still, Gareth Southgate will view it as an excellent chance to assess his options ahead of this summer’s European Championships.
Pickford will undoubtedly take the number one shirt in Germany, irrespective of Aaron Ramsdale’s form. The 25-year-old can’t even break into Arsenal’s starting XI.
The Everton star has made an impact on the international stage for seven years, and there’s a solid argument to suggest he’s an England great.
talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent has even claimed Pickford is the Three Lions’ greatest-ever goalkeeper. “Jordan Pickford is England’s best-ever goalkeeper,” he said.
The 30-year-old has since responded to his claims.
Jordan Pickford reacts to Darren Bent England claim
In an exclusive interview with talkSPORT, England correspondent Fay Carruthers posed Bent’s quotes to the Everton man.
She said: “Darren Bent actually said on air the other day that you’re his number one goalkeeper in his era. How does that make you feel?”
Pickford responded: “It’s a good complement but I want to keep striving for more and improve as a goalkeeper. I’m 30 now but I’m coming into my prime, I would say! I want to keep improving and keep picking up those caps and doing my best for England.”
Is Jordan Pickford England’s greatest ever?
Purely by the numbers, Pickford can’t be classed as England’s greatest ever. Per England Football Online, Peter Shilton’s 125 caps and 66 clean sheets put him streets ahead. It’s a similar story for Gordon Banks, who managed 73 caps and 35 clean sheets.
However, the Everton man is highly likely to overtake England’s World Cup-winning keeper in the coming years.
Furthermore, Pickford’s influence on England’s upturn in performances cannot be understated. He played a vital role in Southgate’s side reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-final and European Championship final in 2021. The national side has been starved of success for years, and the recent upturn in fortunes deserves praise.
He’s contributed to one of the most successful periods in England’s history, and for that, he should be considered one of the all-timers.