JORDAN PICKFORD has been tipped to become England’s No 1 by a team-mate fearing Sunderland could lose the gifted goalkeeper one day.

Pickford is currently with Gareth Southgate’s squad ahead of tomorrow night’s friendly with Spain after being called into the get together last week when Fraser Forster was forced to withdraw through injury.

Last month the 22-year-old was also invited to St George’s Park to train with Joe Hart and Co in a further sign that Southgate has enjoyed working with the Black Cats shot-stopper for the Under-21s.

Southgate took another step towards being handed the national team job on a full-time basis on Friday night when he oversaw a 3-0 win over Scotland at Wembley.

And there is a belief that Pickford could find himself being thrust into the England starting line-up on a regular basis if his progress continues.

But his rise to prominence, particularly this season when he has turned in a number of man of the match displays in a struggling Sunderland side, could end up with him leaving the Stadium of Light.

Team-mate Victor Anichebe, a former Nigeria international striker, believes Sunderland will have a fight on their hands trying to keep such a rising talent on Wearside.

The former Everton striker said: "Jordan, you can all see for yourselves he is a top young goalkeeper. Some of the saves he makes and his distribution; it is incredible, sometimes.

"He is probably one of the best young keepers I have seen and I have seen a lot of good, young keepers. John Ruddy, when I was younger.

"He is a phenomenal keeper and if he can keep his feet on the ground, continue to work hard then he will one day become England's number one.

"As much as Sunderland fans don't want me to say this, some of the huge clubs might come in for him.

"But at the moment he is here at Sunderland and doing really well for us and he kept us in the game at times against Bournemouth last time out. He was unbelievable. The centre-backs were immense too. That is how they should be every week and hopefully we can build on this.”

Sunderland’s chances of keeping Pickford could well be determined in the longer term by the division they find themselves in.

David Moyes’ side remain five points shy of safety in the Premier League and he will be looking for improvements to continue against Hull City on Saturday after the wait for a first win ended at Bournemouth.

But he needs his players to build on the signs of positivity and is hoping Adnan Januzaj, who he has taken to Sunderland on loan from Manchester United, can live up to his billing.

Januzaj has seen his reputation in the game take a knock over the last couple of years having failed to build on the impressive debut season he had under Moyes at Old Trafford.

The Belgium international has ideas of returning to Manchester to prove his worth again, having been discarded quickly following the arrival of Joe Mourinho. He was also overlooked by Louis van Gaal when he was sent out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.

But Januzaj, who is yet to hit top gear for Sunderland, said: “I understand that I was no priority for Mourinho. I don’t have to talk, I have to perform. I don’t have any time to waste I have to prove again that I am a worthy Manchester United player.”