BUTLAND FEARS FOR ENGLAND FUTURE

JACK BUTLAND is on a mission to prove he can combine Championship football with performing on an international stage.

But the keeper (above) admits the longer Stoke are in football’s second tier, the harder it will be to convince England coach Gareth Southgate he is still the man for the job.

Butland emerged from his fourth clean sheet in succession to declare: “I’m still the same goalkeeper, playing well, and that’s the only thing I can control.

“Beyond this summer, it might be a tough ask to stay in the squad as a Championship player.

“I need to be playing and playing well, and I’m glad that’s been recognised.”

Butland hopes his current form does all the talking before the doubleheader against the Czech Republic and Montenegro.

He added: “As an England player, you’re always going to have a task to get in the squad, never mind the shirt. But competition is great to have because it breeds good performances.

“It was a good defensive performance (against Reading) in horrible windy conditions.

“That’s another clean sheet. I think I’ve had five (in a row) at some point, I’ll have to check. You don’t kind of dwell on it.”

Reading boss Jose Manuel Gomes picked Michael Olise, a 17-year-old from the relegationthreatened club’s academy.

Gomes said: “He started a bit nervous but grew with the minutes.

“He is a really very good, talented player.”