Former Blues goalkeeper Jack Butland is set to start for England against Germany in Berlin tomorrow night (7:45pm).
The 23 year-old Bristol born stopper was a product of Blues’ youth set-up. He made 46 appearances before being sold to Stoke City for a bargain £3.5m – but was loaned back to Blues as part of the deal.
Butland will replace the injured Joe Hart, also a former Blues ‘keeper.
The rise to recognition has been a rapid one for Butland who is first choice at the Britannia Stadium, keeping 10 clean sheets in his 31 Premier League appearances this season. England head coach Roy Hodgson sees Butland as a close second choice ‘keeper.
Butland likes to think he has been closing in on Hart even before the Man City ‘keepers injury. He told the Daily Mirror- “It`s not nice to see a fellow player, and somebody I have known for a long time and get on well with, get injured. I spoke to him and obviously wished him well. I was kind of hoping I was bridging the gap anyway, but now he is not here, it is a little bit different.’.
Blues fans have been lucky with the quality of goalkeepers they have seen at St. Andrew’s in recent years. Legend Ian Bennett, Nico Vaesen, Maik Taylor, Joe Hart, Ben Foster, Boaz Myhill, Darren Randolph and Tomasz Kuszczak have all kept goal in B9 – but Butland is the success story.
Despite financial issues forcing the club to cash in on Butland (and several other youngsters – Nathan Redmond, Jordon Mutch, Dimmy Gray etc…) everyone at the club should be proud for playing a part in producing the future England number one.
Good luck to you Jack and never forget where you came from…
Twitter @robwildey123
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