Sunderland have no intention of selling top prospect Jordan Pickford, despite Spurs and Aston Villa being linked with the goalkeeper. Weekend reports have indicated that Sunderland’s Premier League peers, Spurs and Villa, are keeping a watching brief on Pickford during his loan spell at Championship outfit Preston. It is understood that Pickford has also been the subject of interest from other top flight clubs too. But Sunderland believe they have a keeper on their hands who can make it to the very top and have ear-marked the Washington-born stopper as the club’s long-term number one. Dick Advocaat and Lee Congerton thought long and hard over whether to send Pickford on loan to Preston this summer or keep him at the Stadium of Light to offer back-up to Costel Pantilimon. But Sunderland eventually decided that a full season of Championship football would be more beneficial to the 21-year-old, who has kept four clean sheets in his opening seven games for Preston. Washington-born Pickford’s potential is also seeing him progress through the age groups at international level after making his debut for England Under-21s in last week’s 1-0 win over the USA. Pickford is in line to feature again in England’s Euro 2017 qualifier against Norway tomorrow, and is glad to have made his U21 bow after representing his country at every age group from U16s. “It was a great honour and a privilege to make my debut,” he said. “I’m really proud of it and to do it in Preston and to get a good reception was really pleasing too. “As a keeper you want a clean-sheet and then the lads came on and got the goal, so it was good all round.”
Cheers Bri, is this the first quality academy player we've seen through AOL since Henderson? It's nice to hear he's performing well so far.. What happened to waghorn? Villa can **** right off, I'll slice my ballsack off with a hedge trimmer b4 those ****s get him.
Personally, I don't think Mandron will break the first team but there could make a Championship player yet. Gooch is looking decent fella. Don't really follow the U18s but I know they've started a lot sronger than in previous years. The U21s on the other hand I expect to challenge for the title.
Yeah he was out at fleetwood last season, the step up maybe too big for the lad. I'm curious mate, not sure if you can answer this but what is our outlay annually towards the AOL? Seems a decent set up but the productivity certainly has been lacking.. Is it our scouts? Is it just for e.g Chelsteal buying all the young talent?
Nah mate, no way of finding the running costs. Our youth set up is improving season on season though. Ever since Short made changes and brought in a dof the youth policy has improved so Short must have sunk some money into it. Our present u21 team play some lovely football. Could be on the cusp of a golden generation if we give them the change. That depends on the 1st team getting it's act together. Gain early safety and we could start bleeding 4 or 5 in for some real game time.
How does Mandron compare with Fletcher? Without really knowing anything about the young lad I would prefer to see him given a game than mr waste the chance Fletch
Pickford. Didnt realise he was so highly thought of. Who was the last decent home grown keeper..monty?
****ing villa??! Surely he would **** them off anyway, ****ing hate villa like who the **** do they think they are?!
My exact thoughts when I read this!! Spurs - OK he might go there but Villa are a tin pot club no bigger than us!! **** off brummie twats!!
