With no obvious weakness when it comes to keeping the ball out of the net, Pickford’s temperament has often been seen as his biggest issue.
Rooney once felt he was “too agitated”, especially in comparison to his long-time keeper at Manchester United, Edwin van der Sar, who was always cool and composed.
But Walcott feels Pickford has changed as he has grown older and reduced the histrionics that used to be his trademark.
“Jordan has calmed down a lot – I just think he has got a bit more mature,” Walcott told BBC Sport.
“Earlier in his career there were times I played with him where it felt like if he was bored in the game he thought he had to do something, just to feel like he was involved.
“Now, though, I think he actually doesn’t mind taking a step back because he understands that it starts with the goalkeeper and if he is calm, it helps the back four to be calm and the rest of the team too.
“He is not really involved in any scuffles anymore and that is down to maturity.”
You would still never describe Pickford as being impassive, however, and Green feels that emotion is still a big part of his make-up.
“Jordan literally makes his own noise at times but he has reached a point with every aspect of his game where he has proved it has worked for him – so who are we to question it now?” Green added.
“He has been that good over such a length of time where perhaps everyone sat in a studio or in the stands, who used to say ‘oh no, there goes Jordan ranting again’, should just shut up or instead say ‘well, perhaps he knows what he is doing’.”
