Black Cats youngster inspired by schoolmate Pickford

Jordan Pickford has had a breakneck rise to prominence and young midfielder Ethan Robson admits the goalkeeper is an inspiration to every player in the Sunderland academy.

Pickford only made his Premier League debut against Tottenham in January 2016 but has gone on to cement himself as Sunderland’s first-choice keeper in the 16 months since.

His brilliant performances in a rather dismal Black Cats season have seen the 23-year-old nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year – alongside Spurs duo Dele Alli and Harry Kane, Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, Manchester City’s Leroy Sane and Burnley’s Michael Keane.

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Midfielder Robson, 20, is yet to make his first-team Sunderland debut but claims the progress of Pickford – who attended St Robert of Newminster Catholic School, the same as Robson – motivates him and other academy prospects to head down the same path.

“I went to the same school as Jordan and I suppose you could say I look up to him,” said Robson.

“He has done some great things in the game at such a young age and he is doing really well for Sunderland.

“As a youngster I have just got to keep believing that I can go on to achieve the kind of things Jordan has and hopefully that will be me one day.”