Alan Shearer ripped into “ridiculous and bizarre” Jordan Pickford for his conduct in Everton’s 3-2 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Writing in the Sun, the Premier League’s record goalscorer claimed the Toffees and England number one made a complete mess of everything and is struggling to hold on to his place.
Pickford was fortunate not be sent off after rugby-tackling Salomon Rondon in the first half and conceding a penalty he subsequently saved from Matt Ritchie, but made a string of errors as the occasion got to him.
“Pickford should know as an ex-Sunderland player he will get stick from Newcastle fans,” Shearer told the Sun. “But then he wants to get involved with gestures and smiles.
“It’s a ridiculous and bizarre way of behaving when he should be focusing on keeping the ball out.
“I’m worried for him England wise now. He was outstanding at the World Cup in Russia and should be making the shirt his.
“But even basic saves he tries to make look spectacular. Everything seems to be an issue. He is not a kid any more. There comes a time when you’ve got to do the simple things right.”
OPINION
Pickford is a player who looks to feed off the emotion of a crowd. His constant engagement with the terraces did him no favours on Saturday as he appeared to get too caught-up with those abusing him because of his Sunderland connections. That was dim-witted and counter-productive. Pickford is 25, an England goalkeeper and no longer a callow youth learning the ropes. He needs to grow up, chill out and return to the methods that worked so well in his debut season and during last summer’s World Cup, when he rose magnificently to the occasions and looked to have nailed down the number one shirt for the next decade. Has it all gone to his head? Possibly. Only Pickford and those who work with him on a daily basis will really know. The keeper had looked back to his best against Liverpool six days earlier, but his performance at St James’ Park was borderline embarrassing.