Pickford backs new boss Allardyce

Jordan Pickford is confident new Everton manager Sam Allardyce is the man to turn the club’s season around.

Allardyce signed an 18-month contract on Thursday to succeed Ronald Koeman and end a lengthy and often chaotic search for a new boss.

The deal has been met with skepticism by some supporters, who see the move as a backward step and one lacking in ambition.

Pickford, however, has no doubts that Allardyce is capable of getting results.

Allardyce gave Pickford his Sunderland debut during his spell at the Stadium of Light two season’s ago.

Pickford went on to become Sunderland’s established no.1 and his fine performances led to a big-money move to Goodison in the summer as well as a senior England debut against Germany earlier this month.

Now Pickford is reunited with his old boss, the Toffees goalkeeper is confident the team will start to pick up positive results.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Pickford said:

“I had a good five months with Preston but Sam called me back and I got my debut in the FA Cup against Arsenal.

“And a week later he gave me my Premier League debut, so he obviously believed I was capable of playing in those games.

“He will bring a great structure – prepare us for those winnable games and, against the better sides, he will keep us solid as a unit and not let that unfold.

“Hopefully this (win over West Ham) kick-starts us on a run of games where we keep clean sheets and are a tight unit at the back.

“We are capable of scoring goals, so as long as we keep defending for our lives we can go and win games.”

Pickford believes Wednesday’s 4-0 win over West Ham could prove to be the turning point in the season.

Combined with the arrival with Allardyce, the 23-year-old thinks the team can now start looking up rather than down - starting with Saturday’s game against Huddersfield.

“We have unbelievable talent as a group of lads. We have the confidence and, hopefully, this will kick-start us to go again.

“We will take it game by game, we are looking forward to Saturday and will have a good plan going into the game.

“Sam was great with us as a group of lads when we had him at Sunderland and knew the ins and outs of what we needed to do to win games.

“We went through a sticky period when I was there but he came in and turned it around. It was not easy but that is what the gaffer does. He is quality like that.”