There will be no room for sentiment when England and Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford faces hometown club Sunderland for the first time in his superlative professional career.

The 31-year-old shot-stopper rose through the ranks at the Stadium of Light after joining the Black Cats as a boy and made 31 appearances before joining the Toffees eight years ago. 

Despite the move and a new life on Merseyside, he has often been picked out by the cameras when attending Sunderland matches and has brought his son up to follow the Wearsiders and is sure to receive a standing ovation when he steps on to the pitch before the kick-off.

Emotions will rocket through the roof and the match will likely rank right up there with his best moments in the game, which include two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final with the Three Lions, but while it will be gloves on and down to business for Pickford once the first whistle blows it will be gloves off as far as the home crowd is concerned with any sentiment going out of the window.

Everton manager David Moyes is also making a return to a former club having...