Jordan Pickford ‘crazy’ incident leaves Keown baffled as Everton ace left out by England

Jordan Pickford ‘crazy’ incident leaves Keown baffled as Everton ace left out by England

Everton star Jordan Pickford put in a “crazy performance” in England’s 2-1 defeat to Greece on 10 October, Martin Keown has said.

Speaking on talkSPORT with Jim White (14 October, 10:25), Keown was flabbergasted by Pickford’s shaky command of his box and some alarming moments which left England exposed at times.

The Toffees stopper was at fault for one particularly out-of-character moment in the first half, straying well out of his box – only to be bypassed – before Levi Colwill bailed him out with a goal-line clearance.

Assessing the game, Keown said: “The goalkeeper – it was a crazy performance from Pickford, it was absolutely unreal.”

White added: “Oh, it was wild.”

Jordan Pickford’s England form will worry Sean Dyche at Everton

While England are currently in an experimental, transitional phase under Lee Carsley’s interim charge, Pickford is one of the players who has always been a safe bet on the international stage.

Pickford is a contender in terms of being his country’s greatest-ever goalkeeper, and is certainly in the conversation after several high-profile penalty saves in the latter stages of numerous tournaments for the Three Lions.

However, having kept just one clean sheet on Toffees duty so far this season – and being involved in further blunders – it is worth asking the question over whether Pickford is experiencing a decline.

Carsley picked Dean Henderson ahead of him for England’s second match of the international break against Finland on Sunday (13 October), and this could be a further sign of a changing of the guard.

However, with plenty of credit in the bank for his country and no clear alternative between the Blues’ sticks, Pickford will expect to have Sean Dyche’s backing as he bids to turn his ailing form around.