It would not be hyperbolic to refer to Jordan Pickford as a modern-day England great.
The goalkeeper has been - along with Harry Kane - Gareth Southgate's most impressive and consistent performer in major tournaments, helping England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of the 2020 European Championships.
Two saves in the penalty shootout during the latter represented a couple of many highlights, as the Everton man played his part in two memorable summers when the nation fell back in love with its national football team. However, the general footballing public have fallen completely for the Everton man.
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Staggeringly, there continue to be questions about his position at the base of the England team.
Aaron Ramsdale, an improving and talented young goalkeeper, was anointed by plenty as the imminent successor last season. That on the back of his first strong campaign at Premier League level with Arsenal and just a solitary senior England cap to his name against San Marino before the recent round of Nations League matches.
However, that hype train came to a shuddering halt earlier this month. A 4-0 home loss to Hungary ruthlessly exposed the lack of depth England have in crucial areas - goalkeeper included.
But a new contender for Pickford to jostle with will inevitably emerge after Nick Pope completed his move to Newcastle United from Burnley on Thursday.
Like Ramsdale, Pope is a capable goalkeeper and his rangy frame gives him advantages over Pickford in some areas. The Everton man, of course, outstrips the former Burnley man in others.
There will now be increased scrutiny on the new Magpies goalkeeper. Newcastle's controversial owners, new wealth and inevitable lavish spending this summer will make them one of the big stories in the Premier League this season.
Additionally, there is an anger that borders on obsession towards Pickford at St James' Park - the away end at Goodison Park when Everton and Newcastle met in the Premier League in April was awash with mocking T-Rex costumes, for a game the Sunderland man didn't even play in - and you suspect there will be extra vim in recognition of every positive action Pope takes as a result.
And why not? Fans are well within their right to back their own, especially at the expense of detested rivals. Every smart stop, high claim and clever bit of distribution will be banked as a reason for Pope to be Southgate's man at the World Cup.
Of course, Pickford could start the campaign in poor form for Everton and legitimate questions about his position could emerge, especially if the likes of Ramsdale and Pope fly out of the traps.
But if the Toffees' Player of the Year was to suffer a sag in standards for Everton, it would be at odds with what has been a brilliant body of work established over last year-and-a-half. In the final couple of months of the 2021-22 season, he was extraordinary for Frank Lampard's side.
If he was to undergo a drop-off for England, it would be in contrast to a number of exceptional individual displays since making his senior Three Lions debut - many of which have come on the biggest stages in world football.
There will be plenty of chatter around the goalkeeping position before Qatar gets underway this winter - fanatical fanbases like Arsenal and Newcastle will brashly put forward their cases for their respective men between the sticks.
This version of Pickford is more likely to rise to any challenges than wilt though - the way he's excelled under the intense and unfair scrutiny that has come his way during his international career shows as much, as does his improved regular level for Everton.
Still, the phone-in debates and the social media back-and-forth will create a hysterical and insufferable din for Evertonians to endure before the winter World Cup.
But those rackets don't appear to faze Pickford any more. Time to get the rave on.
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