I'm a passionate lad and I love it at Everton - Pickford

Breaking news from the world of sport: I'm a passionate lad and I love it at Everton - PickfordPublished1 minute agoThe similarities between Wayne Rooney and Jordan Pickford are striking. The mutual respect - and shared love of club and country - is obvious as the former team-mates sit down for an in-depth chat on the Wayne Rooney Show. Pickford and Rooney have played a combined 550 times for Everton and 202 times for England.

Rooney is England's all-time leading scorer and holds the record for the most England appearances - 120 - by an outfield player. Pickford recently broke the record for most consecutive clean sheets by a Three Lions goalkeeper and, Rooney believes, is on his way to becoming the country's best ever in his position. When they meet, the prospect of ending 60 years of hurt for England's men's team this summer is high on the agenda.

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One will be at the World Cup as the undisputed number one, the other will be there as a pundit. "We need something as a nation to win," says Pickford, 32. "Any England ex-player...

I don't think they'll ever be jealous. Everybody needs it, it's only going to push the England badge forward. It's football, it's going to make it grow.

"We would be legends for life. When you've been so close it does hurt, but it's got to drive you. We've been so close to winning something for England, so we can take that leadership on and that experience on to bring it all together.

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"We know what it takes to get there and the commitment and dedication you need as a group of lads to get there. It's about getting over that final hurdle. "How Pickford made an instant impression on RooneyPickford has played 82 times for England, having made his debut in a 0-0 draw against Germany in November 2017.

He was first called up to the national squad 13 months earlier - as a late replacement for a World Cup qualifier in Slovenia - and, aged 22, made an instant impression on Rooney - by sitting next to him. "The first time I met you was when you were in the England squad," says Rooney. "I always remember being sat there and you got on the bus for the first time, and you came and sat next to me.

"I remember thinking, 'what's he like? ' And I couldn't wait to get on the training pitch and try and dink you or something. "Pickford says: "Every seat was taken because I came late, I got called up late.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.