Southgate hands his keepers opportunity

stoppage-time equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Hampden in the World Cup qualifying clash.

However, the Manchester City keeper, who spent last season on loan with Torino in Serie A, has not been dropped because of his form.

Southgate insisted he had always intended to share game time between Heaton and Butland against France and added: “That’s for different reasons. Tom’s had an outstanding season.

“We’ve got to maintain the squad environment that people feel involved. That goalkeeping situation, we need to give players an opportunity, game time.

“I think in the past one or two goalkeepers have sort of given up international football because they’ve not had that chance, so I’m conscious of keeping people involved.”

Butland has been sidelined since he fractured his ankle while on England duty in 2015, forcing him to miss Euro 2016 and most of the domestic campaigns since, although he did return towards the end of the Premier League season.

Southgate said: “Jack is coming back from a long lay-off, was the number two before that but hasn’t had the amount of game time perhaps up to now, but we think he can challenge for the number one slot moving forward.”

Arsenal midfielder Alex OxladeChamberlain, who had given England the lead ahead of the dramatic finish against Scotland, said he was pleased with the progress of the national side under Southgate.

He said: “You heard him (Southgate) say there ‘we need a clear identity on the way we want to go forward’ and, for me and all the squads that I’ve been in this has been the one where we’ve really tried to focus on that and tried to get a real clear understanding of how we want to play and how we want to behave between each other on and off the pitch and really get that togetherness.

“I think we’ve really got a good opportunity with this squad, with it being so young with a few really good characters that are senior as well.

“We’ve got a really good chance to build something special from the moment moving forward, so for me that’s been the most positive step forward.

“But it will be a test as France made it to the Euro 2016 final not too long ago.

“They’ve got great players all the way through their squad.” DIEGO Costa admits he sees no point in trying to fight for a future at Chelsea if he is not wanted and has again not ruled out rejoining Atletico Madrid this summer despite their transfer embargo.

Costa claimed last week that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte had informed him in a text message that he was not part of the Italian’s plans going forward at Stamford Bridge.

The 28-year-old has ruled out any chance of moving to the Far East as he does not want to jeopardise his World Cup hopes, but he also concedes that trying to stay and fight for a starting place at Chelsea - with whom he has a contract until 2019 - is a waste of time.

After scoring in Spain’s 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Macedonia, Costa (below) said: “The fight for a place has to be fair. When there is a fair fight you stay and fight, but if there isn’t then you have to go.” ■■Stoke City manager Mark Hughes’ position is not under threat despite another disappointing end to the season, but veteran midfielder Glenn Whelan’s nine-year stay may be coming to an end.

Hughes’ side won just two of their last 11 matches, mirroring an end-of-season slump in 2016 when they registered just one victory in their final 10 games.

However, chairman Peter Coates insists the Welshman’s job is not in jeopardy, despite the club finishing outside the top half for the first time in four seasons.

“We felt he has done well for us since he’s been here and we don’t expect that to change,” said Coates.

Doubts remain over the future of Whelan, with Sky Bet Championship side Aston Villa interested in the 33-year-old.