JORDAN PICKFORD expects next season to be a defining moment in his career, and is determined to dislodge Vito Mannone and establish himself as Sunderland’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Pickford made his second Premier League start as the Black Cats signed off for the summer with a 2-2 draw at Watford on Sunday, and looked perfectly at home as he commanded his area effectively and made a couple of significant saves.

Having started the season on loan at Preston, the 22-year-old was recalled to Wearside when Costel Pantilimon joined Watford in the January transfer window, and having made his Black Cats debut in an FA Cup defeat at Arsenal, he was also named in the starting line-up for the league defeat at Spurs.

The last four months have seen him kicking his heels on the bench, but Sam Allardyce continues to hold him in high regard and the Sunderland boss will spend the summer pondering whether to elevate him above Mannone in the pecking order.

Mannone did little wrong as Sunderland clambered to safety in the final two months of the season, but if Pickford is regarded as the long-term future of the club’s goalkeeping department, there will have to come a stage when he is entrusted with a starting spot.

“Next season is a big chance because I feel like I am ready to make that step to playing in the side,” said Pickford, who was born in Washington and initially joined Sunderland’s academy at the age of eight. “But it’s whoever the gaffer calls upon.

“I just have to keep working hard in training. If he picks me, he picks me. I will be patient, and make sure I’m ready for that step.

“The gaffer’s words are that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. I have played a lot of games since I was young. I have played 30-odd games in the lower leagues, so I am ready.”

Pickford’s move to Preston was the sixth loan switch of his fledgling career, following previous spells at Darlington, Alfreton, Burton, Carlisle and Bradford. His time in the Championship clearly benefited him, and ensured that when he was thrust into the pressurised environment of the top-flight, he was able to cope.

His first experience of the Premier League could hardly have been more testing, but while Sunderland were thrashed 4-1 at White Hart Lane, he still emerged with a large amount of personal credit as he made a string of impressive saves that ensured the defeat was not even worse.

The youngster learned a lot from his outing at Spurs, and was determined to use Sunday’s game as another opportunity to push his claims ahead of the summer break.

“I’d played a couple of in-house games since the Spurs game, but Watford was my first first-team game since then,” said Pickford. “It was frustrating at Spurs because I couldn’t have done much about the goals. Spurs were an in-form side, so I had to be proud with how I played even though I didn’t get a clean sheet that day.

“I don’t feel nerves, I feel strong. I’ve crossed all the leagues on loan and am ready for the big step. I want to do the best each game and get better and better, that’s what I feel is happening too. I wanted another game before I go away, and I got it.”

While the majority of his team-mates will now embark on their holidays, Pickford will link up with team-mate Duncan Watmore to travel to the Toulon Tournament in France with England Under-21s.

Gareth Southgate’s side will take on Portugal, Guinea, Paraguay and Japan in their initial group games, with their opening match pitting them against the Portuguese on Thursday.

The likes of Nathan Redmond, Jack Grealish, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and James Ward-Prowse have also been named in England’s squad for a tournament that has helped launch the international career of a succession of star names.

“Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll have teams from different continents to play against like Japan and wherever,” said Pickford. “We want to do well, and it’s a great tournament to go to.

“We fly Tuesday and play Thursday. It’s good to play early after the season because then we can come back, go away and enjoy the summer before returning for pre-season.

“After Toulon, hopefully I will come back and have done well, then I can have a break before going back for pre-season flying. Then next season, I want to try to get as many starts as I can.”