Sunderland manager Simon Grayson has revealed that he is not surprised by Jordan Pickford’s rise from back up goalkeeper to being called up to the England national team.
Pickford was on the books of the Black Cats last season and though the club were relegated from the Premier League, he was one of its impressive players and even managed to earn himself a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the year award.
After a series of impressive performances he earned himself a £30 million move to Everton this summer. He has also been called up to the England squad by Gareth Southgate and is expected to challenge for the first choice position in the near future.
Grayson has now revealed that he is not surprised by the progress that Pickford has made and said, “I think Jordan deserves the credit for where he is at this moment in time, and so do the people that developed his career.
“He got that experience of going on loan from non-league to the league, and then to the Championship, then to be fair to the lad he’s grasped that opportunity and done ever so well.
“He’s learned how to develop and backed himself to play. When I was at Preston I did say I thought he’d be a Premier League regular and England’s number one in the future.”
