Leeds United’s Bailey Peacock-Farrell has been compared to Everton and England’s Jordan Pickford by Northern Ireland coach Steve Harper as the goalkeeper is forced to bide his time at Elland Road.
The 6’4″ giant (source: Transfermarkt) started the season as the number one option between the sticks but the arrival of former Real Madrid shot stopper Kiko Casilla has resulted in the 22-year-old settling for a place on the substitutes’ bench.
Away with Northern Ireland over the international break, Harper compared Peacock-Farrell’s situation to 15-cap England international and Premier League ever present Pickford during his time at Sunderland, where he made a name for himself before heading to Goodison Park.
He was quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post as saying: “Obviously he’s disappointed to be left out. On the bus earlier I was chatting to him about the scenario I had with Jordan Pickford at Sunderland when I went there.
“He wasn’t in the team but he was working incredibly hard in the gym, doing the extra work so when his opportunity came he was ready. When you do get left out if you take it the wrong way – you don’t train well, don’t do the extra work – when your opportunity does come then you aren’t ready.
“Jordan was working very hard and when he got his opportunity he was ready. It’s great experience, great exposure at a good level in the Championship and they’re (Leeds) now only a heartbeat away from the Premier League.”
Opinion
Being compared to England’s number one shot stopper is by no means a bad thing for Peacock-Farrell and as Harper says there is plenty to be done when you are not in the team to make sure you are ready when the call does come. Barring a shock turn of events, the Leeds man will be between the sticks when they take on Millwall after the international fixtures, Casilla having picked up a red card, and therefore a one game ban, in the defeat to Sheffield United. These are the sort of opportunities that Harper is talking about and a bright performance will only give Marcelo Bielsa food for thought. He is unlikely to usurp the Spaniard after just one game but he has got to remain in contention. A poor performance only gives his manager more reason to keep him out in the long term and while he has plenty of time left in his career, he will no doubt be desperate to get playing on a regular basis.