Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has revealed the big influence of Kevin Ball in his career.

Ball worked with Pickford as academy chief

In an interview with the BBC Football Focus show, Pickford said: “It was a good grounding for us. Bally was my U18 coach and now Elliott [Dickman], who has been there for a long time, is the same.

“When you got into the U18s bootroom, they're all still wearing black boots, it is all still being being done the same way as it was six years ago when I was a youth team player, and it would have been the same for Hendo when he was there. It isn't going to change, that's how we are as a club.

“It's a hard-working area and the academy has always tried to reflect that.

“Even doing the little jobs and chores properly, you could never get away with anything.

“I can't remember what I did wrong, but, at one point, Bally put me on the jobs for two weeks – the boots, the balls, the games room, everything. They had to be done perfectly, he wouldn't let you get away with it."