Jack Butland sets his sight on England's No 1 jersey after starring for Stoke at Newcastle



Jack Butland produced another star performance as Stoke earned a point at Newcastle



JACK BUTLAND has already established himself as Stoke's No 1 and now his sights are set on becoming an England regular.

 

And if he makes as big an impression at international level as he has since breaking through in the Premier League, then Joe Hart should be a worried man.

Having served a long apprenticeship, Butland has stepped out of the shadows to shine brightly as a first choice goalkeeper.

"I'm relishing it and thriving," said the keeper who pulled off four stunning saves to keep Newcastle at bay. "The manager has tossed me in there and I would like to think I've made his decision worthwhile."

Against a Newcastle side who have now drawn blanks in seven of their 13 games this season, Butland twice denied Moussa Sissoko and pushed away an Ayoze Perez piledriver.

 

But he reserved the best till last, spectacularly tipping over a header from Toon sub Jamaal Lascelles as Steve McClaren's side stepped on the gas in the closing minutes.

It has already been a big campaign for Butland who has been promoted from England's under-21s into Roy Hodgson's squad and is a shoo-in for next year's European Championship squad on his current form.

And the 22-year-old is not going to France just for the ride.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes warned him last week that he faces a real battle to dislodge Hart in the England starting line-up.

But Butland said: "My ambition is to be England's No 1 keeper - 100 per cent.

 

Butland produces a finger tip save to deny Newcastle

"I've been a second choice before and had keepers in my way before - at Birmingham when Joe Hart was there on loan and Ben Foster.

"Of course, I want to play in the Euros and that's not a case of disrespect.

"I want to go in there and test myself against Joe. I'm sure he will likewise want to stop me getting past him. That is the way it works.

"We have a really good relationship but that is the motivation. I want to play for England, even at the expense of Joe."

Neither Hughes nor McClaren, who had Butland at Derby, would rule out the youngster leapfrogging the Manchester City man in the months ahead.

 

"It doesn't surprise me he says that," said Hughes. "He's a confident boy who's playing well enough and Joe will know he'll push him hard."

Keepers were occupying McClaren's thoughts after a match in which Newcastle always had the edge but could not quite boss.

He embraced Butland on the final whistle but then his attentions turned to Newcastle's goalkeeping crisis with Rob Elliot likely to join Tim Krul and Karl Darlow on the casualty list after suffering a recurrence of an old knee injury.

The club will now try to sign a replacement on an emergency loan with Manchester United's Victor Valdes a possibility.

"We have to investigate because we fear the worst with Rob," said McClaren. "It's a bad situation to be in."

 

Newcastle continue to look better than their lowly league position suggests but the lack of goals is concerning.

Star Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum said: "I still have faith and confidence that we'll be alright.

"The only thing that makes me slightly nervous is that we are not scoring goals and to win games, you have to score."

NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Elliot 6; Janmaat 6 (Lascelles 82), Mbemba 7, Coloccini 6, Dummett 7; Tiote 6 (De Jong 71), Anita 6; Sissoko 7, Perez 8, Wijnaldum 6; Mitrovic 6. Booked: Mitrovic. NEXT UP: Bournemouth (a), Sat PL.

STOKE (4-5-1): Butland 9; Johnson 6, Shawcross 7, Wollscheid 6, Pieters 6; Shaqiri 7 (Crouch 90), Adam 7, Whelan 6, Bojan 5 (Afellay 59, 7), Arnautovic 6 (Van Ginkel 89); Walters 6. Booked: Wollscheid, Adam, Arnautovic. NEXT UP: Chelsea (h), Sat PL.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire).