Mark Prudhoe has reserved special praise for the heroics of Jordan Pickford after he was nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year.
The Washington-born stopper has enjoyed a momentous rise to prominence this season after making his Premier League bow at Tottenham Hotspur in January 2016.
Now 23, Pickford is one of six nominees alongside Tottenham duo Dele Alli and Harry Kane, Everton's Romelu Lukaku, Manchester City's Leroy Sane and Burnley's Michael Keane.
And speaking to safc.com, Prudhoe has hailed Pickford’s rise from the Academy of Light to stardom in the England set-up.
“It is a testimony to Jordan and to the football club for persisting with all the different loans,” he said.
“He has had a lot of help from all the clubs he has been at and Sunderland have directed him in the right direction.
“There have been some good people behind him and the type of guy he is, he knows that this nomination is shared through himself and the club.
“The accolades will come his way because he has done so well despite the fact we find ourselves in a difficult situation,” he continued.
“I watched him a lot of times last season while he was at Preston, they did a great job with him and he was ready to step-up when he came back.
“He took his opportunity at the start of the season and we have now got good competition which is healthy for the football club.
“But Jordan, who is getting a lot of accolades, has his feet and his studs are firmly on the turf.”
