O’Neill: You can get back to top, Jack

JACK BUTLAND has been told to forget his alarming slide and play himself back to the big time.

The 27-year-old Stoke keeper has seen injuries, relegation and loss of form put a cloud over his career for both club and country.

Three years ago he was pushing Joe Hart for the undisputed England No1 spot and being touted for big-money moves. Now he is a million miles away.

Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson and Tom Heaton are all above him in the Three Lions pecking order and he is playing for a Stoke side who only just avoided relegation from the Championship.

With just one year left on his contract, Butland, below, could probably be picked up for about £8million – when not so long ago when it would have taken nearer £25m. But Potters boss Michael O’Neill says Butland should not be negative.

O’Neill said: “I’m not concentrating on the past.What has happened in the two years since the 2018

World Cup doesn’t concern me and I don’t think it will help Jack.

“He has to deal with the here and now. He’s got a year left so it’s in his hands to have a really good season. That’ll obviously be good for Stoke. If Jack were to leave that is something we’d have to deal with. He’s still one of the top keepers around.”