Robbie Stockdale has praised Jordan Pickford to the hilt after he earned a call-up to the England squad ahead of tonight’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Scotland.
The 22-year-old was drafted in between the sticks at Sunderland in August as Vito Mannone was ruled out for up to three months with an elbow injury which he sustained in training.
Since then, Washington-born Pickford has gone from strength to strength, and even produced a number of fine saves to inspire the Black Cats to their first Premier League win of the season at Bournemouth last Saturday.
As the Three Lions prepare for tonight's crucial fixture at Wembley, first-team coach Stockdale has lavished praise on the young stopper, admitting he full deserves his call-up by Gareth Southgate.
“He is doing great and he deserved it with the performance he put in on Saturday to help us get the win,” he said.
“He produced a number of match-winning saves and I think he has performed very well but hasn’t had the rewards of a victory.
“For everyone we are all every proud of him, he has still got some way to go but he is on his way to becoming a real top goalkeeper.”
