Much has been said about David Moyes’ imminent return to the Stadium of Light – eight long years after his much-maligned exit from Sunderland AFC.
But while the Scotsman has grabbed the headlines as we prepare to lock horns with Everton on Monday night, he is not the only returnee.
Unlike Moyes, Jordan Pickford will undoubtedly receive a warm welcome when he runs out at the stadium where he grew up watching games as a fan – and where he also made his Premier League debut (ironically against Everton).
There will be mixed emotions for the affable 31-year-old, a Sunderland academy graduate who is now England’s number one goalkeeper. He’s still a big fan of his hometown club and spoke this week about how he attended our play-off semi-final against Coventry back in May with his son.
There will also be a strong sense of pride among the Sunderland faithful – and rightly so. Pickford is one of our academy success stories, he always speaks well of our club and its role in his through the ranks to the very top of his profession.
But once the game kicks off on Monday, there will be no sentiment from either side with the very real business of Premier League points up for grabs.
Jordan is a top goalkeeper not just because of his fast reflexes and commanding presence. He’s also a huge voice on the field for both Everton and England. Now a vastly experience professional, Pickford will be 100% focused on the task at hand – and given Sunderland’s fantastic start to the season so far, he’ll have to be to keep us at bay.
Could the occasion get to Pickford and could this potentially play to our advantage? I very much doubt it given his array of Premier league, European and international experience – this is a player who has played in a World Cup semi-final for Engand and two Euros’ finals.
But it’s lovely that a player with such pedigree has never forgotten his roots. This week, he recalled memories of sitting in Crazy Corner as a young fan, shared the disappointment he felt upon relegation in 2017, and the joy he felt while watching us beat Sheffield United in the play-off final in May.
Premier League football is a multi-million pound business – and there is little room for sentiment. Yet before and after kick-off, it’s only right that we welcome and applaud one of our own who has achieved so much in the game.
