Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford not getting distracted by World Cup dream

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is focused on continuing his improvement for Everton as he does not want to put additional pressure on himself with the World Cup looming.

With Joe Hart struggling for a first-team place at West Ham, it would appear Pickford and Stoke’s Jack Butland, who has had his injury problems over the last 18 months, are likely to be vying to be Gareth Southgate’s number one in Russia.

Pickford has been in superb form since his £25million-plus move from Sunderland in the summer and was man of the match in Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Chelsea – watched by Southgate.

It was a result which stretched Sam Allardyce’s unbeaten record to six matches – not counting the win over West Ham, which he watched from the stands – but the new manager was indebted to his goalkeeper for a string of saves to deny Pedro and Eden Hazard.

Asked about his World Cup chances, the 23-year-old, who has won 14 England caps, said: “It is still a long way to go. I have to keep putting performances in for Everton. I cannot control anything else.

“The main thing is making sure I am on the plane because that will be a great experience for myself.

“There is loads of competition, that is why you cannot think about that too much.

“You can do all the stuff on and off the pitch to get there, but the main thing is performing on a Saturday and getting clean sheets is only going to help.

“But I still feel it is a long way away and I just need to focus on grafting away and becoming better and more mature as a goalkeeper.

“I have made my debut, which was a dream, and if I could go to the World Cup – I would be 24 then – it would be a great experience.

“I always want to improve and even if that wasn’t the carrot (England number one) then I would want to keep improving for myself.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself whereby I am thinking if I am not performing I won’t be in the England squad.”

“Yes, definitely. Hopefully when March comes round I will get an opportunity to play again,” he said, speaking ahead of Everton’s Boxing Day trip to West Brom. “There are two tough games (against Holland and Italy) and what will be will be.

“If that is playing in a World Cup for England, that will be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Allardyce’s arrival at Goodison Park is also a major positive for Pickford.

The former England manager has immediately made the team hard to beat and that is reflected in five clean sheets in the seven matches since it became known he was to be the permanent replacement for Ronald Koeman.

“He gives you a structure of how to go into games and it is all about basics with him,” the goalkeeper added.

“Don’t make mistakes and, if you do, don’t make the next one. It is about the basics and it is about a strong core and being resilient.

“It doesn’t just help me as a goalkeeper. Everyone knows their own job and what are doing and it helps all of us.”