Butland back on England’s radar, says goalkeeper coach Margetson
JACK Butland’s performances for Rangers have caught the eye of the England set-up, with goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson saying he is back “on the radar” ahead of the European Championship.
The 30-year-old Bristol-born goalkeeper moved to Ibrox at the start of the season after ending last season on loan at Manchester United from Crystal Palace.
Butland did not play a minute of competitive football for either club last term but has flourished since making a summer switch to the cinch Premiership giants.
Those displays for Rangers have caught the eye of Gareth Southgate’s team, with a diminished pool of in-form options potentially aiding his bid to return to the national team as Euro 2024 comes into focus.
“Jack is definitely on the radar, there’s no doubt,” England goalkeeping coach Margetson told
Record Sport.
“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.
“I get videos of all his Rangers appearances sent to me by the FA, so that gives me a chance to study all of Jack’s games. I then report back to Gareth but I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Jack, particularly of late.
“It looks like he’s thought a lot about his game. I see a lot of things in there where I feel he’s really making the most of his experience to improve himself.
“You see it tactically in the positions he’s taking up and he’s in a really good place, so he’s doing himself a power of good.
“Anybody who is playing firstteam football at a good level automatically comes into the reckoning, so all credit to Jack.
“He’s playing for a huge club and I know, having looked at his stuff, he’s doing well. I’m not guaranteeing him that he’ll be in the squad but what I’m saying is that myself and Gareth are fully aware he’s doing a great job at Rangers.
“Jack’s job now is to keep that going. If he does, that will benefit Jack and it will benefit Rangers too.”
Butland won the last of his nine England caps in a friendly against Switzerland in September 2018, just months after going to the World Cup as back-up to Jordan Pickford.
The Everton stopper remains Southgate’s number one ahead of the Euros, but recent back-ups Sam Johnstone and Aaron Ramsdale have fallen down the pecking order at their clubs.
Experienced Nick Pope is also out through injury, but James Trafford and Dean Henderson are other options as Southgate weighs up his selection for March’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
“We are blessed with a number of very good goalkeepers in the England set-up,” Margetson added.