Jack Butland is not taking an England recall for granted despite both Gareth Southgate and his goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson having confirmed that the Rangers player is under consideration to be involved in next month’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
The 30-year-old former Manchester United, Stoke City, Birmingham City and Crystal Palace goalkeeper has been in inspired form since moving to Ibrox last summer, and made another crucial save in the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock on Wednesday night which kept Philippe Clement’s side top of the SPFL Premiership.
Butland has played nine times for his country, but not since a friendly against Switzerland in September 2018. When he made his debut, under Roy Hodgson in 2012, he was only 19 and became the youngest ever England international goalkeeper. He was part of Southgate’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.
With Nick Pope injured and Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone no longer the first choices at Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively, the England manager requires fresh back-up to Jordan Pickford and revealed earlier this month that Butland is in the mix.
“It is an issue and it is up in the air,” Southgate said. “I can’t deny that so again we have to make sure we’re watching everybody. Jack Butland is included in that because he’s obviously playing at a big club and is an experienced goalkeeper. It’s not an ideal situation with Aaron not playing, Sam at the moment not playing and Nick injured. We’ll have to see how that plays out.”
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Margetson has also backed Butland’s claims, saying: “Jack is definitely on the radar, there’s no doubt about that. I’ve been watching all of his games and I’ve been really pleased with how he’s performed. He’s doing himself a power of good.”
Butland is reported to have held discussions with Southgate back in September when the England squad was based at the Rangers training ground before their friendly against Scotland, but he is yet to receive any direct indication of his prospects of featuring in next month’s Wembley ties.
Asked whether a recall now seemed inevitable, Butland replied: “It doesn’t seem that way to me quite yet. But it would be amazing. I have always said I would love to get back there and be part of that again. I have never shied away from that.
“I have always said that my performances, and playing regularly, had to come first. But if that’s enough to get me picked again then I’ll gladly put the kit back on and get back in the squad.
“I think the squad will be announced in two weeks, as it usually is on the Thursday before, and it would be really nice to be selected. I’ve not had any contact with anybody. But should it happen, it would give me a huge boost, there’s no doubt about that.
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“I’m in a great place, I’m loving my football, and loving how I’m doing and how I’m playing. I’m loving the general feel of everything here at Rangers. And it would be the icing on the cake if I could get back in there with England.”
At Rugby Park in midweek, Rangers were already trailing when, a minute into the second half, Butland got down brilliantly to his right to claw away a goalbound effort from Matty Kennedy. It was a sensational stop that could have longer-term significance in what is set to be a close-run title race, not least after goals from James Tavernier and Tom Lawrence then turned the scoreline around.
“At this stage of the season it’s about moments,” Butland said. “And a moment like that knocks the wind out of their sails, I guess, and gives us a bit of a lifeline. It would have been really difficult from there had that gone in.
“But Tav has a moment, Tom has a moment, and that’s what this part of the season is all about. We had those big moments when we needed them against Kilmarnock and it got us the result in what’s a tough place to play football.”
“You just try not to give up the goal. You just try to get to the middle of your goal and keep your eye on the ball the best you can. He [Kennedy] put a good contact on it but it was at a nice distance for me. I wasn’t quite at full stretch but, for me, it’s about putting myself in those positions. That’s what you train for.
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“You don’t go trying to chase after things, you just wait for things to come to you and fortunately I was in the right position to make that save.”
It felt like a significant result for Rangers ― and in the overall picture ― with Kilmarnock having already claimed two wins (one of them in the Viaplay Cup) and a draw against Celtic and beaten the Ibrox men on the opening day of the season. Rangers were jeered from the field by their own supporters that afternoon as Michael Beale’s tenure began to unravel.
“Performances have changed,” Butland acknowledged. “From the fans’ perspective, they can see we are trying to do things the right way. They can see that we’re the better side in the games that we play. They can see the chances are coming. I think that’s what they look for and you get more and more belief the closer you get to the top.
“Ultimately, when you do get to the top of the table the fans allow themselves to chant a little bit freer, if you like. But they have been unbelievable for us all year.
“At the start of the season we needed to hear that booing because we weren’t good enough. But they haven’t failed to travel everywhere we’ve been and they’ve brought the noise every time. Certainly, in the last three or four months, it has been positive from every angle at the club. And that’s what we’re thriving on and loving.”
