Is it time to give record-breaker Pickford the credit he deserves?

Jordan Pickford's consistent excellence for both Everton and England warrants greater recognition, especially considering his impressive statistics. Over the past two Premier League seasons, Pickford has achieved 23 clean sheets, a record surpassed only by David Raya of Arsenal, who has 32.

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I think he has been under-appreciated for Everton and England when you look at the numbers he's posting, the games he is playing and the number of clean sheets he has.

His international career further underscores his value. In 89 appearances for England, Pickford has conceded 59 goals and kept 44 clean sheets. Opta statistics reveal he has made only two errors that have directly led to goals. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson argues that Pickford's contributions have been consistently underappreciated.

"I think he has been under-appreciated for Everton and England when you look at the numbers he's posting, the games he is playing and the number of clean sheets he has," Robinson told BBC Sport. He added, "He is only second behind David Raya in the last two seasons for clean sheets and they are playing for very different teams."

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He is only second behind David Raya in the last two seasons for clean sheets and they are playing for very different teams.

Robinson also emphasized Pickford's significant experience in major tournaments, noting his consistent presence as England's first-choice goalkeeper since the 2018 World Cup. "With England, you look at his experience, the way he has gone deep into tournaments. I always talk about competitive caps, but he has lots of tournament caps, which is so important," Robinson stated. He believes Pickford is the "first name on the team sheet" for England, highlighting a stark contrast with other goalkeepers who have only a handful of competitive games.

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With England, you look at his experience, the way he has gone deep into tournaments. I always talk about competitive caps, but he has lots of tournament caps, which is so important.

Despite a challenging start in one World Cup match, Pickford has demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill. His performance in the Azteca stadium, including two brilliant first-half saves and commanding displays in the penalty area, was particularly lauded. "It was a very brave display of goalkeeping," Robinson remarked. "I really admired what he did out there in that second half and his two saves in the first half kept England in the game."

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I think he's the first name on the team sheet. There is nobody else.