Jordan Pickford reveals Thomas Tuchel's secret ingredient that can win England the World Cup

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Jordan Pickford still gets a text from his mum after every England call-up. It shows that, as he prepares to win his 80th cap against Latvia, just what representing England still means to him eight years after making his senior debut.

Pickford, 31, deserves to go down as one of England’s best No.1s and he has matured from the hot-head keeper into being such a calm and consistent presence on the pitch. Incredibly, Pickford has yet to concede a goal in England’s qualifying campaign and they can clinch their World Cup place with victory against Latvia on Tuesday night.

Everton keeper Pickford said: “That’s the best thing, every time you get that England call-up you should be proud. Me mam always texts me after the announcement comes out ‘well done’, ‘congrats’, every time. I just love being here at England and every time I’m on the training pitch, I want to improve … every time I get the nod to put the England shirt on it’s always a proud moment for me and I’ll do my best for England like I feel I’ve done for England over the eight years.”

Pickford is one of England’s biggest characters, loudest voices and, bizarrely, is third in the list of players who have won most caps but never started a game as captain. Kenny Samsom won 86, Gary Neville 85 and Pickford is on 79. He insists that does not matter to him in the slightest and his reasoning gives an insight into Pickford’s character and personality.

“I think it is always an honour to walk out and be an England captain,” he said. “It is an achievement but Harry Kane is the captain and is one of the best captains I have ever had.

“He leads by example and I feel like I am a leader without having the armband on. You need a few leaders in the group and I feel like I am one of them, when I step on that football pitch. That record is not an issue for me.

“Representing the country is the biggest issue for me. Doing my best for England is always what I have looked to do.”

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Pickford also acknowledges that he has matured down the years. Former England winger Theo Walcott claimed that Pickford has “calmed down and matured”.

Pickford is so consistent now and he credits his coaches, current England coach Hilario, and Martyn Margetson as well as Mark Prudhoe during his time at Sunderland for helping him improve.

“They used to say, especially, Pruds in my early days at Sunderland: ‘don’t be bored, don’t go trying to invent work, let the work come to you.’ It is a big part of the game. Let the work come to you. That is something I have definitely learnt and there is a big improvement on that side of it.

“It is easier when you are a young kid because you are a bit more daft and you want to come and get involved in everything. But the more games you play in the Premier League and with England with the badge, it is something you learn and when called upon, you have to be in that moment and I think I am very good at it.”

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Years ago, Pickford delivered one of the all-time great press conference quips. When someone asked him if there was a danger he could “over-think things.”

Quick as a flash he replied: “There’s no chance of that, mate.” These days he thinks more deeply.

And, after going to two World Cups and reaching the final of the last Euros, the determination to win is even greater and he believes Thomas Tuchel is building a team environment which can deliver the biggest trophy of all.

He added: “We got to a final in the last tournament. Spain were the better side on the day, but it takes some doing to get to a final from being away. So we’ve got to be proud of those moments, but it’s about hitting that next step now.

“We know what it takes, but I think it’s something the manager is going to keep driving from us, as players and as ‘Team England’.

“I think he likes us to be ‘Team England’ - the players, the staff, that togetherness and it is crucial going into tournaments. The first objective is Latvia tomorrow and to get over the line and to get to the World Cup.”

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