Jack has done his homework on Steve
JACK BUTLAND won’t need to do any homework on interim Birmingham chief Steve Spooner.
Stoke’s shot-stopper was schooled by the stand-in Blues boss when he was a young hopeful at St Andrew’s.
Butland, 27, will cross swords again with Spooner – brought in after Pep Clotet’s reign was brought to a premature end last week – for today’s crunch clash at the bet365 Stadium.
Spooner says he knew the keeper was on the fast track to success when he caught him doing his homework on the team bus.
He said: “Jack was a great kid, well-disciplined and respectful. That’s the way we like to bring up our lads – but he was very motivated.
“Young footballers at 15 or 16 tend to push their schoolwork to one side and use the excuse that their football is so important to them.
“Jack was different. He was very focused on what he wanted to do.
“His career hasn’t gone the way we would have thought at one stage.
“But I’m sure he’ll bounce back. I really enjoyed working with him, he’s a super lad.”
Spooner, 59, is one of the development coaches and has latterly been involved in the Blues
Under-18s side that reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup two years ago.
He also had a taste of frontline management with the now-defunct Rushden & Diamonds.
But with both teams in desperate need of three points today, is he fazed by the prospect?
Spooner added: “No. I’m really looking forward to it, there’s no better thrill or buzz for me than being on the touchline during a game.
“Whether it’s the
Under-18s or first team, I’m still excited by it.”