Former England goalkeeper David James has put Jordan Pickford in his Premier League top five, calling the england goalkeeper a rare fit for both Everton and England. James said Pickford has the consistency to belong with the league’s best, and added that the 32-year-old is probably the anomaly in the Premier League.
James Backs Pickford’s Consistency
“I think for consistency, yeah. It's funny actually when you ask about top five, I mean he's got to be up there,” James said. “I'm a big fan of Jordan.” He went further and made his view plain: “I think Jordan has got so much scope to play in different environments. I'd definitely put him there in the top five.”
Pickford has spent the best part of a decade as England’s No.1, and his senior international debut came in 2017. Since then, he has collected 84 caps and stayed in the role through a period when England have repeatedly leaned on him in major games.
Everton Shape Pickford’s Case
James tied that assessment to the way Pickford has handled his club situation. The Everton goalkeeper moved for £25 million in 2017 and has played more than 350 games for the club, despite lacking major honours at club level and despite Everton not offering the sort of European stage some of the league’s other elite keepers have had.
That is where James sees the test. “If I say horses for courses, when I talk about someone like Ali, who I think at his best is the best goalkeeper in the world, you put him in some teams like I'd say Everton even, or you put him into a team like Newcastle then you're probably not going to get the best of Ali in that side,” he said. “You put him in an England side which is completely different to Everton, he's a perfect fit for England.”
England And The Penalty Debate
Pickford’s standing comes with England preparing to open their World Cup group stage campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, before matches against Ghana and Panama in Group L. The next club and international stretch also matters for a separate issue: Pickford has said he wants to take a penalty if England reach another shootout this summer, while Harry Kane will be responsible for England’s penalties for at least the next couple of weeks.
James’ view places Pickford in a crowded group that includes David Raya, Alisson, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Emi Martinez, but the former England No.1’s judgment was specific. Pickford’s case is built on consistency, workload, and the way his game has translated from Everton to England without dropping level.
