Joe Hart’s decision to turn down Sunderland last month has offered a potential successor as England’s No1 goalkeeper a long‑awaited chance to command centre stage.
Jordan Pickford already has nine England Under-21 caps but watching him excel against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday it is easy to envisage the 22-year-old from Washington, Tyne and Wear, eventually taking over from Hart at senior level. Sunderland’s coaching staff have known about his extravagant potential for years but following loan stints at Darlington, Altrincham, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End, he began this season as Vito Mannone’s understudy.
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