Three reasons Jordan Pickford deserves a clean slate at Everton next season

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There wasn’t much to remark about England’s two most recent fixtures, against Iceland and Denmark.

Then again, for Jordan Pickford, a quiet week’s work and two clean sheets might not be the worst thing.

Back in July, Carlo Ancelotti was quoted by the Guardian stating his goalkeeper needed to improve his form after a patchy season.

After a relatively successful week away, we’ve got three reasons Pickford deserves a clean slate at Goodison Park next term.

Ancelotti’s calm leadership

Joe Hart was eventually dropped by England because he was too pumped up and kept making basic errors.

Pickford is going the same way but he has one of the calmest managers around in charge of his club side now.

Ancelotti needs to transfer some of that serenity to Pickford, because the best goalkeepers are the ones which exude quiet confidence.

The England man needs to take that on board, but he’s got the perfect man to learn from.

Euros looming

Pickford will have his eye on the rearranged European Championship already.

He isn’t daft, he’ll know Nick Pope and Dean Henderson are breathing down his neck.

The former Sunderland man will be aware he has to improve to retain Gareth Southgate’s faith.

That target in mind should focus him. Pickford may well have got away with one this summer. His 2019/20 form may well have seen him dropped for the Euros had they gone ahead as planned.

He’s now got a second chance which he will be keen not to blow.

Undisputed first choice

Everton don’t have a convincing, realistic alternative for Pickford as of yet.

Unless Ancelotti gets a new stopper in the transfer market, he doesn’t have too much choice but to try and get the best out of Pickford.

That’s not the worst position to be in as he remains a hugely talented goalkeeper.

Sometimes not having the option of an expensive new recruit forces managers to coach improvement from their current crop and that would work in Pickford’s favour this season.