The 21-year-old goalkeeper will make his Sunderland debut against Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday, with the full support of boss Sam Allardyce.
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Big Sam said: “He has played first-team football instead of just Under 21 football, and you have seen the benefit of that today in his performance”.
“I’m not sure if I’d have played a different team they would have done any better and that is the good thing for me”.
“There were some good performances, the level of concentration I was disappointed with but lots of positives though”, added Allardyce.
“If there was to be an offer from somebody else, for either Costel or Vito, I’d probably call them in and say, “What do you want to do?”
“There is a huge amount of talk in the football world about him, there is no way I could have left him at Preston without bringing him back and seeing if he can do it for us”.
Pickford could be the catalyst for Allardyce rebuilding Sunderland with local roots.
Pickford spent time at Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United and Bradford City prior to moving to Preston, and therefore boasts considerable senior experience, albeit at a lower level than the top-flight, despite his tender years.
“He’s given those performances all season at Preston”.
Pickford, recalled from a loan spell with Preston North End, delivered an assured performance in the Sunderland goal and made some fine saves to deny Campbell and Kieran Gibbs in particular, and Allardyce believes the England youth worldwide is beginning to gain the reputation he deserves.
When quizzed on the matter, Allardyce told reports that Pickford will now be staying at the club and suggested any offer for his fellow goalkeepers will be considered by all parties involved. I hope he follows in their footsteps, ‘ he said. He will play in the first team at some stage. “There’s more pressure, perform better”.
“His parents dedicated their life since he was eight to bring him to Sunderland football club four nights a week and every weekend”.
“At Preston, he played in every single game, won a load of man of the match awards and earned loads of praise from the manager”.
DeAndre Yedlin, Danny Graham, Steven Fletcher, Ola Toivonen, Jeremain Lens and Sebastian Coates were all recalled to the side.
“It’ll mainly be players who have played in the Premier League this year, and who have been in the squad all season”, he said.
Allardyce has indicated that at least one of his youngsters – keeper Jordan Pickford and defender Tom Beadling seem the most likely candidates – will start at the Emirates Stadium, but was not naming names.
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“There will be one or two players rested who won’t travel, and one or two who have niggles, without them really being that serious, who will be rested to get ready for Swansea and Tottenham”.
