Jordan Pickford has applauded Conor Coady after his season-long loan spell at Everton.
Speaking on Jill Scott’s Coffee Club podcast, the goalkeeper had only good things to say of the 30-year-old.
Coady joined Everton from Wolves last summer and made 24 appearances in the Premier League, with his only goal coming in a 2-1 win over Southampton in October.
It was expected that the defender would remain at Goodison Park beyond his loan, however the Toffees opted against making his stay permanent in a potential £4.5 million deal.
While Coady clearly didn’t do quite enough to force Everton’s hand, Jordan Pickford was very impressed with the centre-back and was familiar with his ‘massive character’ from their time with the international team.
“Top lad, Conor,” Pickford told Scott.
“Massive character in the dressing room. Very vocal, just a top professional. You talk about people who just love football and he’s definitely one of them.
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“Coads is very vocal. We can see what’s going on in front of us and we are just trying to help the lads.”
Everton remain on the hunt for Coady’s replacement, while the Wolves man has been linked with a move to Leicester City this summer.
Everton will rely on the leadership of Jordan Pickford and others
Everton’s threadbare squad were left to rely on their older, more experienced individuals last season.
A team like the Toffees need a number of players who will do everything for the shirt and who will guide the rest of the players to success – just like Pickford and Coady.
The defender wasn’t the most talented player in the squad, but he had brilliant leadership abilities and was clearly a huge influence in the dressing room.
Pickford is exactly the same, while the club have also relied on Seamus Coleman for many years.
Everton need to properly invest in youth and the future of the club rather than signing the likes of Andros Townsend and Idrissa Gueye, yet the presence of their veteran players is still just as important.