The Black Cats' young keeper Jordan Pickford has toldThe Telegraph that he models himself on England and Torino number oneJoe Hart and has his goalkeeping hero's shirt framed at home.
The 22-year-old got the chance towork alongside Hart during the last international break, when he received his first call-up to the England senior squad in October.
However, Pickford revealed that his first encounter with Hart was back in 2012, after Manchester City's 2-1 defeat to Sunderland,when young Jordanwas in attendance asa member of the Black Cats' U18 squad.
"I asked for Hart's shirt after the game," Pickford revealed.
"I've got it framed in my house. Every time I see him, we always speak to each other and he asks how I am doing. When he was younger, he was at Shrewsbury and he was going out on loan and playing. I've tried to model myself a little bit like him."
Sunderlands #JordanPickford is #SkySports star #MattLeTissier young player of season https://t.co/UIUuZMEBJc pic.twitter.com/CNJ6clMQMX
Hart is a logical role model forPickford, as the 29 year-old has alsostarted out at lower league club, before making their mark on the Premier League.
Washington-bornPickford is highly-rated at the Stadium of Light and is being citedas a potential future England number one. One of the few players to actually enhance their reputation at Sunderland so far this campaign, David Moyes may not be ableto be able to hold onto his keeper if they drop down to the Championship