England’s Butland relishes battle for goalkeeping slot

ENGLAND’S Jack Butland is backing manager Gareth Southgate’s policy of keeping his goalkeepers guessing as to who will be the number one for the World Cup in Russia.

The Stoke player is set to start against Italy at Wembley today and needs to keep pace with Everton’s rising star Jordan Pickford, who made it two clean sheets from two appearances during Friday’s 1-0 win in the Netherlands.

Long-serving first-choice Joe Hart is also in the frame while uncapped Burnley man Nick Pope has also been training with the squad for the first time.

Southgate’s reluctance to nominate his preferred candidate with just three more friendlies before heading to Russia is controversial, but Butland said the internal battle drove up standards.

“It’s a good thing isn’t it, having competition? I enjoy it,” he said.

“Training between all of us is extremely intense. Obviously it’s one we’re all trying to take for ourselves, but ultimately whoever deserves it, whoever the manager feels, will get it and we’re all trying to do our bit to make sure it’s us.”

Butland said Southgate would make his decision when he was ready but until then the competition would be fierce.

“I think that’s a great way to go into a World Cup, not knowing who it is just yet shows the competition is great and whoever it will be is going to be coming off a battle, which was what we want,” he said.

Italy were also the opponents when Butland made his England debut in 2012, a 2-1 win in Bern.

At just 19, he became the youngest England goalkeeper but a series of injuries have seen him win just five more caps.

“Of course, six years ago, I was the youngest keeper to play for England, an incredible moment. But injuries happen and it was a massive setback for me.”

Joe Gomez has been ruled out of the match with an ankle injury. – AFP