Pickford has been one of the stars of Pretson's seasons keeping five clean sheets in a row. Sam Allardyce has recently taken over at Sunderland and was allegedly int he crown on Tuesday for the Forest game.
There is a clause in the season long loan which allows Sunderland to recall Pickford in January. Allardyce may well look to activate that clause and if so that could reignite Preston's interest in Sam Johnstone who now seems surplus to requirements at Man Utd.