I’VE GOT HIGH HOOPS
Basketball fan Butland out to net No.1 spot for England
JACK BUTLAND insists he has enough time to make himself England’s No.1 for the World Cup.
The Stoke keeper is refreshingly honest about his ambition and determination to battle Joe Hart to become first choice by next summer.
He is equally open about his desire to experience the Champions League and does not believe playing for Stoke is obstacle when it comes to the Three Lions.
“I’ve always said and never hidden that I want to play at the top, be England’s No.1 and win trophies,” said Butland. “While I’m at Stoke, I’ll always try to do that.”
Of his Champions the 24-year-old adds League hope, know I have targets aded: “The fans and would be happy and ambitions, happened. It’s good I’ve that sort of relationship with them.
“It’s testing yourself, not just against the best in this country but the best the rest of the world has to offer and the best in Europe. You don’t get to play against them very often, playing against teams you are not aware of.
“It can only enhance you as a player, your IQ and understanding of the game against teams who
The fans know I have targets and ambitions and they’d be happy if that was playing Champions League I’ve always learnt from Joe Hart. We get on really well and we both have the same steely determination
play different styles and in the Champions League to get you ready for World Cups, you can only gain from that.
“I think performances stand for themselves and I believe I can get the No.1 spot playing at Stoke. If I didn’t, I would be silly but I believe it comes down to performances.
“If I keep knocking on the door . . you shouldn’t discriminate against a club. I’m at Stoke, I’m enjoying it, it’s not my fault and I shouldn’t be discriminated against just because who I play for.
“It’s about doing the best job we can to make us successful. I don’t sit there and worry about it and I don’t think my chances are damaged because I play for Stoke.
“I believe there’s still time for me to get that No.1 slot. There are two more qualifiers and we have two more friendlies in November, friendlies in March and then friendlies before the tournament. So that’s eight games or so to show what I can do. I’ve been in situations like this since I was 19.” Butland’s eyecatching displays this season and Hart’s struggled at West Ham, prompted talk that Gareth Southgate would start him in the qualifiers earlier this month, but the England boss stayed loyal to Hart.
“Obviously I was disappointed,” said Butland. “I thought we’ve all been doing pretty well, everyone is after an opportunity. But I kept my head down, we had Man United the following weekend, played them and I thought we did well.
“It’s the manager’s decision and I can only do so much but I’ll respect that, support Joe or whoever it is and keep going until I get there.
“I’ve always learnt from Joe, no matter whether he has been going through tough times or playing really well. We get on really well, have the same steely determination, nothing fazes him. He doesn’t care what people say about him.”
Butland grew up playing football and rugby – he watches his younger brother Harry play rugby whenever he can – and loves basketball. He took part in a basketball video shoot to promote PlayStation’s NBA 2K18 computer game.
He enjoys the physical stuff in a penalty area and revealed the Sadio Mane red card caused much debate in the Stoke dressing room.
The Potters are back to being like their old selves this term, beating Arsenal and holding Manchester United to a draw and Butland says early-season predictions of doom and gloom never affected the players.
He added: “I think there’s always that frustration with us – we either don’t do a lot or do it at the very end. The fans want to see us do better but I think all they also want to see is us working hard and giving everything.”
That Stoke were relegation candidates “never crossed my mind at all”, he said. “I think we’ve too much quality, too many big characters to let that happen.
“We’ve brought in big characters who can score, we can even break down top sides. We feel good about the formation and personnel we’ve got.”