By Michael Brown

9th Nov, 2020 | 4:00pm

'I don't get it' - Exclusive: Top pundit baffled by what Ancelotti has done at Everton

Michael Brown has admitted he was baffled by Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to bring Jordan Pickford back into the Everton starting XI against Manchester United.

The former Premier League midfielder, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, has suggested the Italian boss had fired a warning to the English shot-stopper by dropping him for Robin Olsen against Newcastle United.

Ancelotti explained after the loss to Newcastle last week that Pickford would return for the visit of Manchester United and he was just being rested at St. James’ Park.

The England international has come under intense scrutiny this season for his goalkeeping and then injuring Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

He did little to dispel question marks around his form against United and almost gave away a penalty for a challenge on Harry Maguire.

Asked about Ancelotti’s decision to reinstate Pickford, Brown told Football Insider: “I don’t get it. It’s a warning when you bring a goalkeeper in so the warning was already there.

“I don’t know, he sees Pickford every day, he sees his professionalism, sees how he deals with people, and maybe that is getting the best out of somebody.

“It’s difficult as a player because then you’re thinking right: ‘Well if I kick one ball out of play am I going to be left out?’ It becomes difficult if it becomes a regular thing, you know.

“Does that mean now he’s got a block of games, is the slate, is the slate clean? Do you play bad for a couple of games and you’re out or is it one game, is it one half? They’ll only know that from the discussions in house.”

In other Everton news, a top pundit has been left in awe of one rarely-seen player who reminds him of Bernardo Silva.