Date: 23rd September 2016 at 3:28pm
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After Saturday’s exceptional performance between the sticks away to Tottenham, Jordan Pickford has been singled out for praise by many players and pundits.

And in all honesty, the youngster deserves all the credit he gets because he has been outstanding, despite having arguably one of the poorest defences in the Premier League in front of him.

Pickford, who is a Sunderland lad, is just 22-years-old and has been at the club since 2002. From an early age, it was clear to see that he possessed heaps of talent and now the Black Cats will be hoping the youngster can fulfil his potential and become one of the best goalkeepers in the top-flight.

derland :Jordan Pickford, the Sunderland goalkeeper.Photo: Mark Leech

Pickford will be hoping to keep his first league clean sheet of the 2016/17 season against Crystal Palace on Saturday – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Spells at Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City, and more recently Preston North End, have only helped the young ‘keeper and has seen him make a breakthrough into Sunderland’s first-team squad, thanks to the absence of Vito Mannone.

It is nice to see the academy products finally getting a chance in the Premier League and the likes of Pickford, along with Lynden Gooch, have proved that they are not fazed by having to perform on the big stage every week.

Since this breakthrough, the Sunderland fans have been nothing but impressed with the quality Pickford possesses. Despite only having five Premier League appearances to his name, it looks like Mannone will have stiff competition on his return.

In my opinion, I prefer Pickford, because his distribution is far better than the Italian’s. I’ve never known a goalkeeper at Sunderland to be as good at kicking a ball than the England Under-21 international. Every time he kicks the ball, it seems to find his man and even puts us in goalscoring opportunities.

Despite shipping five goals in three starts this season, it has been Pickford who has often kept the scoreline down due to his shot stopping. This was majorly apparent in the recent match against Spurs. It is incredible how the score was only 1-0 to Tottenham as they had 31 shots on target, compared to the Black Cats’ six.

Pickford has also been busy in his other two starts this campaign, and in three games, has already had to make more than 20 saves.

ame - Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Moyes’ Sunderland are already three points adrift of safety after four defeats from their opening five fixtures – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Hugo Lloris, in the Tottenham goal, was suitably impressed with Pickford after the game, saying, “I think we can congratulate their keeper – he was amazing today.

“Last season he was brilliant too. I prefer that you talk a bit more about his performance because it’s not easy. Every game he has to make more than five saves and mentally you can get tired – but today he was amazing until the end and he made the difference.”

Even though it is only five games into the season, Matt Le Tissier has selected Pickford in his Team of the Season based on current performances.

If we can sort the defence out in front of the young shot stopper, then we just might be able to survive in the Premier League again this season. One thing is for sure, the returning Mannone and new arrival Mika will have a tough job displacing Pickford from the first-team if he keeps on performing like this.
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