Jordan Pickford is aiming to start Everton's final two matches of the 2020/21 season - and seal his longest sequence of appearances of the season!
If selected against Wolves tonight the England goalkeeper will be making his seventh successive start of an injury interrupted season. He has yet to make eight this season.
It's a far cry from the 120 consecutive Premier League starts Pickford made after signing from Sunderland in the summer of 2017 - but he says he is comfortable with manager Carlo Ancelotti's rotation policy.
"On a personal level, I feel I’m in a good place and I’ve been happy with my form," he told evertonfc.com.
"I’ve had a couple of injuries this season and been rested for a few games, too.
"The manager has got that knowledge and experience of resting keepers. At Real Madrid, he had Iker Casillas and Diego Lopez and he rested them on occasions. He’s done it everywhere.
"The manager has sometimes described it as a mental break. Of course, though, I want to play in every game and that’s what I prepare myself for.
"For me, it’s about continuing to improve and getting that consistency week in, week out."
After some early season wobbles Pickford has found an impressive vein of form, ahead of this summer's delayed European Championship finals.
He added: "I’m 27 and I’ve played a lot of games. I’m maturing every time I step out on the field. I’ve had a lot of experience and that has made me a lot better.
"I feel I’m getting that consistency in my performances and I’m eager to continue that."
Pickford has been accused in the past of becoming too emotional during matches and reacting to the crowd. He may actually have benefited from empty stadia, but he still says he can't wait to welcome 6,500 supporters back into Goodison Park tonight.
"We know we have to improve our home form," he admitted.
"We prepare well every day in training and aim to beat every team we play, but we have to look at where we could have done better in those games we’ve lost at Goodison.
"No matter what player you speak to, they’ll say playing in empty stadiums has made a difference – but we have to look at ourselves and take responsibility.
"It’s been a difficult period for everyone in the past 14 months, so it’s great we’ve got to the stage where we can have our supporters back at Goodison again.
"We had 2,000 fans in the stadium for a couple of our games just before Christmas and, with the noise they made, it felt like a full house.
"There will be treble that amount of fans on Wednesday and we want to put on a performance for them and get that win."
