**Jordan Pickford has set his sights on Everton reaching the Champions League.**
David Moyes’ side currently sit eight point adrift of a qualification spot for Europe’s elite club competition ahead of Monday’s visit of Manchester United.
The Blues are approaching a decade since their last continental involvement when they dismally failed to make it out of the Europa League’s group stage.
It is also 31 years since Evertonians were able to toast tangible success with the 1995 FA Cup remaining the club’s last meaningful piece of silverware.
But Pickford believes the European exploits of Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, coupled with Newcastle ending their own lengthy drought, should serve as inspiration to push on.
He said: “When I joined (in 2017) we were in Europe.
“We know the fantastic history of Everton Football Club, a lot of trophies won, a lot of titles won, and it’s how do we now create our own history as players?
“We’ve seen Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup and getting into Europe, Notts Forest getting into Europe.
“I know they’re not having the best of seasons but they were close to getting Champions League football last season – and Newcastle winning the League Cup when they’ve not won a trophy for a long time.
“The opportunities are there, it’s about taking them and grasping them with both hands when you get that opportunity.
“Because you might only get that one final in your career – you make sure you take it as a club and you’ll be remembered as a legend.”
“Everyone wants to play Champions League football, why can’t we? It’s a tough ask but opportunities arise,” added the England international.
“It’s about us building as a club and I think that’s what the ownership are doing. It might not be this season, but hopefully down the line we’ll get there.”