Jordan Pickford has had a difficult time recently, with one high-profile nightmare against Newcastle United raising questions about his form and focus. So is there any prospect of him letting doubts and worry into his head, starting to question himself, and starting to overthink? No chance. “I can’t overthink me, lad,” he replied when asked at Wembley on Thursday afternoon.

This was classic Pickford. Breezily confident, straight-forward, able to keep himself focused on what actually matters: saves and clean sheets and whoever he is playing next. This was the Pickford who was so brilliant at the World Cup, especially against Colombia and Sweden, and who Southgate will continue to trust as England embark on the next cycle. He will start against Czech Republic at Wembley this evening, the start of England’s Euro 2020 campaign. Southgate, clearly, is not worried by his goalkeeper’s form. And neither is Pickford himself.

“I think it’s just me as a person,” Pickford said. “Nothing really affects me. That’s from being brought-up well by my parents and where we’re from, and we’re a hard working family. And I think that’s where my mentality comes from as well.”

Goalkeepers need a different type of mentality from outfield players and Pickford has never exactly been prone to meticulous over-analysis of his own game. Of course he wants to play better from one game to the next but if he does make a mistake it never gets inside his head and breeds the same anxiety and questions that other players face. No doubts, just confidence for the task ahead.

“No, I never go into a game with any doubts,” Pickford said. “I always feel confident in my ability and hopefully I can be strong mentally. I would say that’s one of the strongest parts of my game. That’s never going to distract me from the game. Sometimes maybe it just doesn’t go right in the game but that’s football and I think I’m definitely improving game by game and getting more experience is good.”

England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Show all 11 1 /11 England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Jordan Pickford BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Jordan Pickford of England in action during an England training session at St Georges Park on March 21, 2019 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) David Rogers Getty Images England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Kyle Walker Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - England Training - St. George's Park, Burton upon Trent, Britain - March 21, 2019 England's Kyle Walker during training Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI James Tarkowski England's defender James Tarkowski (L) talks with England's manager Gareth Southgate during a England team training session at St George's Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England on March 19, 2019, ahead of their UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying football matches against the Czech Republic and Montenegro. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Harry Maguire Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - England Training - St. George's Park, Burton upon Trent, Britain - March 19, 2019 England's Harry Maguire poses with a fan during training Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Ben Chilwell Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - England Training - St. George's Park, Burton upon Trent, Britain - March 19, 2019 England's Declan Rice and Ben Chilwell during training Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Eric Dier England's midfielder Eric Dier (C) attends an England team training session at St George's Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England on March 21, 2019, ahead of their UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying football matches against the Czech Republic and Montenegro. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Jordan Henderson England's midfielder Jordan Henderson attends a England team training session at St George's Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England on March 19, 2019, ahead of their UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying football matches against the Czech Republic and Montenegro. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) Getty England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Dele Alli England's Dele Alli during the training session at St George's Park, Burton. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 19, 2019. See PA story SOCCER England. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to FA restrictions. Editorial use only. Commercial use only with prior written consent of the FA. No editing except cropping. Martin Rickett PA England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Jadon Sancho Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - England Training - St. George's Park, Burton upon Trent, Britain - March 21, 2019 England's Jadon Sancho during training Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Raheem Sterling BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Raheem Sterling of England in action during an England training session at St Georges Park on March 21, 2019 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) David Rogers Getty Images England vs Czech Republic: Predicted starting XI Harry Kane Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - England Training - St. George's Park, Burton upon Trent, Britain - March 21, 2019 England's Harry Kane during training Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters

This inherent confidence is why Pickford is still such an avid user of social media. He is busy on Twitter and Instagram and admitted that he will check his phone as soon as he can after games to see what people are saying about him. Many players would not do that because the criticism would hurt them but Pickford is confident enough not to especially worry about it. He just lets it all bounce off him.

“It’s just social media really at the end of the day,” Pickford shrugged. “You see it all on Twitter and stuff, and if you don’t laugh you cry, don’t you?”

Some players do not want to open the floodgates to the outside world and all of the hatred and abuse that exists online. Pickford is happy enough to let it all wash over him.

“It’s weird, because when you turn your phone on, the first thing you do is go on Twitter or Instagram and see what you’ve been mentioned in. But every footballer is different, and every sports person is different. People read them and have a laugh, people read them and maybe get offended by them, and people might think about that and think how can I get better and not get the criticism? I would just say that everyone is different in the social media aspect. Some people don’t have it.”

And if it did bother Pickford, he would simply switch it off. “No, it doesn’t wind me up at all,” he said. “Or else I would, like you say, just close the door on it. I don’t mind it at all, I just let it run. Sometimes you get good stick and sometimes you get back stick, it’s all just about how you deal with it.”