Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell told to take a lesson from England stopper Jordan Pickford

Northern Ireland goalkeeping coach Steve Harper has told Bailey Peacock-Farrell to take a leaf out of England and Everton stopper Jordan Pickford's book.
Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

The 22-year-old has found game time hard to come by since the arrival of Kiko Casilla at Leeds United in January.

Peacock-Farrell, though, remains in contention to start Northern Ireland's Euro 2020 qualifier against Estonia at Windsor Park on Thursday.

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Harper, who is also an academy coach at Newcastle United, has told the Whites stopper to keep his head up despite a lack of minutes and take lessons from a similar scenario England number one Pickford found himself in at Sunderland.

"Obviously he's disappointed to be left out," Harper said of Peacock-Farrell's situation.

"On the bus earlier I was chatting to him about the scenario I had with Jordan Pickford at Sunderland when I went there.

"He wasn't in the team but he was working incredibly hard in the gym, doing the extra work so when his opportunity came he was ready.

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"When you do get left out if you take it the wrong way - you don't train well, don't do the extra work - when your opportunity does come then you aren't ready.

"Jordan was working very hard and when he got his opportunity he was ready."

Peacock-Farrell will once again line-up for the Whites against Millwall following the international break, his first Leeds appearance since for over two months.

United's number one Casilla was shown a straight red card in the 1-0 Championship defeat to Sheffield United. Marcelo Bielsa opted not to appeal against his one-game ban.

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"He's a young lad to have played 27 (league) games for a big club like Leeds," Harper said.

"It's great experience, great exposure at a good level in the Championship and they're now only a heartbeat away from the Premier League."