Ben Foster says one of Everton’s players has been ‘fantastic’ recently

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Everton have had a decent start to the season under David Moyes, with hopes of a European spot still massively intact despite a few wobbles – and Ben Foster believes one star in particular has been ‘fantastic’.

Everton sit on 15 points in the Premier League table, just four points off a Champions League place – albeit in 13th place, with a more competitive division seeing teams clustered together in and around mid-table.

A number of stars have impressed, namely Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish, with a more attacking outlook for the Toffees so far under David Moyes.

But Ben Foster believes that Jordan Pickford has been ‘fantastic’ recently for the Toffees, as well as England after going a record 10 games without conceding.

Ben Foster thinks Jordan Pickford has been fantastic for both Everton and England

Speaking on his own podcast, the ‘Fozcast’, the former England goalkeeper labelled Pickford as ‘fantastic’ for his consistent performances for Everton and the Three Lions down the years.

In a huge endorsement of his talents, the ex-Manchester United stopper said: “I’m going with Jordan Pickford.

“He has been in fantastic form for both club and country this season, proving that with experience comes consistency.

“And having just signed a new four year contract with Everton, I’m hoping to see more of those consistent performances.”

Pickford has been incredibly consistent for the Toffees, at least over the past five seasons after some shaky form at parts of his Goodison Park career, and Foster is right in saying that it comes with age.

Jordan Pickford has been Everton’s best goalkeeper since Neville Southall

There have been some solid Everton goalkeepers down the years, but taking everything into context, Jordan Pickford has been the best Toffees stopper since Neville Southall was at the club – and Pickford has already mentioned he wants to surpass Southall in terms of Merseyside folklore.

Nigel Martyn was in goals when Everton qualified for the Champions League under David Moyes, though he only featured regularly for about two-and-a-half years until his retirement in 2006.

Tim Howard also had a 414-game stint at Goodison Park, at one point going four full Premier League campaigns without missing a single game, but some major blips towards the end of his career means Pickford slightly edges him.

The Sunderland native will still have to play another two seasons to overtake Howard’s number of Everton appearances in the Premier League.

But it was his heroic performances in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons respectively that led Everton to safety.

You can have all of the European campaigns possible under Howard and Martyn, but keeping Everton in the league and being such a key part of that with some vital saves is much more important. Having another four years of Pickford between the sticks should hopefully see him earn European football.