Jordan Pickford: I had no nerves on my Sunderland debut

Sam Allardyce opted to install Pickford in the starting XI for Sunderland's clash at White Hart Lane after the 21-year-old was preferred to Vito Mannone.

Pickford justified that selection, with the academy product arguably Sunderland's top performer, despite being beaten on four occasions, as the Black Cats folded in the second half against title-chasing Spurs.

"I found out this morning when the gaffer named the side," Pickford told BT Sport.

"It was a bit of a surprise with Vito playing well, but he put me in the team, which I'm obviously buazing over.

"But the result didn't go our way.

"I wasn't nervous. I tried to treat it like another game.

"I've got a lot of experience in the lower leagues which has done me the world of good.

"It was nice to make an early save and relieve a bit of pressure.

"But there was no nerves.

"I obviously made my debut at Arsenal last week, but making my Premier League debut was a dream come true.

"It's just a pity wasn't the same."