PROVE TO US YOU’RE ALL RIGHT NOW JACK

JACK BUTLAND has been told to use his summer of discontent to show he’s the best keeper in the country.

Butland was relegated with Stoke and then had to sit on the fringes as Jordan Pickford-inspired England reached the World Cup semi-finals.

Butland seemed the natural successor to Joe Hart when he made his Three Lions debut at 19 but things haven’t quite gone to plan for him.

Now Stoke boss Gary Rowett has urged the 25-year-old (above) to show there’s no-one better.

Rowett said: “Jack has performed brilliantly and I don’t think there’s a better goalkeeper in England in terms of dominating his box. Some of the saves he’s made have been excellent.

“I don’t want to tempt fate but, when they play a ball into our box, you can guarantee Jack’s going to come and take it. He’s been really assured.”

Rowett is more than happy if big clubs are banging on his door in January, adding: “I’d love it if all our players were playing so well that everybody wanted them.

“If other teams come in for our players it means we’re doing our job properly. Jack is showing us what he’s got – and that’s the ability to be the best goalkeeper in the country, in my opinion. I hope he’s on a mission for himself and on a mission to get Stoke back in the Premier League.

“Whatever any player’s motivation is, as long as they are showing it out there on the pitch I don’t really care.”

Stoke, who visit Reading today, are out to show they can live up to their pre-season billing as Championship favourites, especially after the midweek win over Derby put them within striking distance of the play-off places.

And Rowett believes they are ready to close on the promotion slots. In their last nine Championship games they’ve conceded only five goals.

“In the last 13 games we’ve lost two,” he said.

“If you look at our teamsheet – and I’m not being conceited – we should be looking to win every game. We’ve got the players to do it.”