"I've Trained with Jordan Pickford, and No Other England Keeper Matches His Skill – With Him in Goal, the World Cup is Within Reach!"

THERE’S been a lot of criticism coming Jordan Pickford’s way.

And I feel it’s been a discredit to a player who has produced so much for England over the years.

Jordan Pickford has been England’s No.1 for the best part of a decade Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK But the Everton keeper has come in for flak as of late Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK

said he didn’t think could win the with Jordan in goal, and he must feel that there’s someone else better for the job — but I can’t see who that would be.

I don’t see any keeper that’s come close to him.

There was Nick Pope when he was playing really well at Newcastle and Aaron Ramsdale when he was performing nicely at Arsenal.

But then we always seem to revert back to because you know what he can do in an England shirt.

It always helps having a good keeper where you know, as a defender, that someone’s going to bail you out of trouble if you make a mistake or you need a big, important save at a certain time.

I feel that Jordan has come up with those moments when he’s been needed.

Some people say he’s not great with his feet but I was already established at right-back when he came into the team and I had no problem passing the ball back to him. Jordan is very, very, very good with his feet.

At he probably doesn’t get to practise that as much because they have a more long-ball set-up and to the modern-day keeper that’s not probably the norm.

Troy Deeney doesn’t foresee England winning the World Cup with Jordan Pickford in goal Credit: REUTERS Kyle Walker has leapt to the defence of his former England team-mate Credit: GETTY

But whenever we were in England training, doing build-up and phases of play, he was more than willing to get involved.

I’ve said before that sometimes when Jordan’s behind you screaming, you would prefer a bit of calm, but could be pretty vocal, too.

I don’t think any keepers are actually normal, are they?

I don’t think I’ve come across one. It’s how they motivate themselves. Keepers need great concentration, too.

They might not be doing anything for 70 minutes and then get called on to make a massive save.

That is what separates good goalkeepers from average ones — and Jordan has that big save in him.

I played with the Brazilian keeper Ederson at Man City and he was one of the best, if not the best, with his feet.

It was truly amazing what he could do and something we needed as a team to help build up a play with the extra man.

But he himself would probably say he could have done a little bit more with his hands and let some shots in that probably should have been saved.

Sometimes you have to take the good and the bad.

He also produced match-winning saves, especially one in the final.

So they all have the pros and cons. I do understand the debate about Jordan.

I’m not saying that the argument is completely false but I think what he’s done for England is truly remarkable.

And I don’t see why we can’t win the World Cup with him in goal.

It’s not down to just the goalkeeper anyway; it’s down to the team as a collective.

Also, when you are talking about the European or world stage that we’re actually in now, you’re probably going to have to go through at least one penalty shootout to reach the final.

And Jordan Pickford is one of the best in the world at penalty saves.

He does his research and his homework and makes sure that he knows everything about the penalty taker that he’s facing.

Kyle Walker has full faith in former England team-mate Jordan Pickford Credit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD

Unfortunately, I had to practise them against him — even though I didn’t want to take them — and I know that out of five penalties, he’s saving two.

Usually in a penalty shootout, if you score four you win.

You can afford to miss one, because you know Jordan’s going to stop two going in the back of the net.

We’re facing a tough game against Ghana but I do expect us to win — and that will mean we can give some key players a rest for the last group match against Panama.

has played a lot of this season and at a high, high level, with great pressure on in reaching the Champions League final and also obviously winning the Premier League.

So there’s been a lot of football in the legs.

I still feel when you’re representing your country on a big stage like the World Cup you can get through things.

But if he’s nursing a slight muscle injury, that’s something that they need to take care of because a fit Declan Rice will be needed in the knockout stage.