Jordan Pickford insists he will always put Everton first amid talks of a place in England’s World Cup squad.
Pickford became the most expensive British goalkeeper of all-time last summer when the Blues paid a then club-record £30 million for his services.
The former Sunderland stopper has gone a long way to justifying that fee with a series of impressive performances this season despite his side’s early struggles.
He continued that fine form with a superb display which helped earn his side a point in a goalless draw with Chelsea at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Sam Allardyce warned Pickford that he must not get ahead of himself in his bid to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s squad for next summer’s World Cup.
But the 23-year-old is already under no illusions that he will have to continue working hard to stake a claim in his country’s squad for the finals in Russia.
“Hopefully when March comes round I will get an opportunity to play again,” he told the Telegraph.
“There are two tough games, it is all about experience and what will be will be.
“If that is playing in a World Cup for England that will be the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“But you have to keep working hard and if it is not me and I am on the plane then I will be supporting them all the way because it is about being a team.
“I always want to improve and even if that (being England no.1) wasn’t the carrot then I would want to keep improving for myself.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself whereby I am thinking if I am not performing I won’t be in the England squad.
“I need to think about Everton first and keep keeping clean sheets or doing the best for the side. The rest will come.
“It is still a long way to go. I have to keep putting performances in for Everton. The main thing is making sure I am on the plane.
“As long as I keep putting performances in week in, week out that that is all I can do. I cannot control anything else.”