David James has backed Jordan Pickford as the "best" English goalkeeper around ahead of England's upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Pickford is set to add to his 21 caps for the national side this week as England take on Czech Republic and Bulgaria on away soil.
The 25-year-old has had a difficult start to the season with club side Everton , having kept just two clean sheets as the Toffees sit inside the bottom three.
But James is convinced the Sunderland-born stopper is the right man for the Tree Lions as he fends off competition for the no.1 jersey.
"I’m a fan of Jordan," James said. "Looking at the Premier League clubs now I think there’s quite a few young English goalkeepers coming through but I still think he is the best about at the moment."
Pickford has come on great strides since making his debut for the national side in November 2017, and was the hero of England's World Cup campaign the following summer.
He is joined in the England goalkeepers camp by Burnley's Nick Pope, and Sheffield United's Dean Henderson - who has replaced injured Aston Villa goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
James himself knows the pressures and responsibilites that come with being England's first choice between the sticks, having earned 53 caps during his playing career.
He added: "I like him, he’s confident. It will be interesting to see how his development goes.
"Having had such a meteoric rise to the England position and shoring up that no.1 spot, there’s going to be a lull at some point.
But he’s decent and he’s a good lad. When I’ve spoken to him he’s very focused, which is obviously very important."
James did suggest however that Pickford's strengths were not being capitalised on at club level.
"He’s well renowned for his distribution," James added. "I always question whether his ability could be used better. His accuracy is up there with the best and I think that’s sort of been used more with England in tournaments."
James is working as an ambassador for the Safer Gambling campaign - Bet Regret.
He said: "This isn’t an anti-gambling campaign. It’s just about making punters more aware of the risks of impulsive gambling.
"It’s not even about whether the bet wins or loses. It’s about that actual bet that you regret.
"We want to make people aware that this is impulsive gambling and shouldn’t be done."
David James has teamed up with GambleAware and the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) as an ambassador for the Safer Gambling campaign – Bet Regret. For more information visit: https://www.begambleaware.org/betregret/
