It would be an injustice if Rangers ‘keeper Jack Butland were not to be picked by Gareth Southgate for England’s Euro 2024 squad, according to Gary Keown of the Scottish Mail.
On pages 106-107 of their 19 May edition, Keown describes what would be a “jaw-dropping” blanking of the Gers star should he be omitted from Southgate’s trio of goalkeepers, with the preliminary squad to be submitted on Tuesday.
After critiquing the potential of Southgate preferring the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope, Sam Johnstone and James Trafford to rival Jordan Pickford, Keown said:
“Considering Southgate travelled north to take in the Ibrox outfit’s 3-3 draw with Celtic last month, blanking Butland again would represent the most jaw-dropping example of a custard pie in the chops since Laurel and Hardy threw a whopping 3,000 of them in The Battle of the Century.”
Jack Butland – Rangers and England?
Butland has kept 18 clean sheets in a stunning debut season for Rangers, and many wonder this term where the team would be without him.
Philippe Clement has been blessed with by far the best goalkeeper in Scotland, and whilst Butland has not featured for the Three Lions since 2018, his 50-plus appearances this season have shown Southgate could do – and has done – far worse.
There have even been calls for Butland to immediately rival Pickford, which whilst realistically not happening this summer, at least gives a flavour of the consensus on the stopper north of the border.
With the England major tournament calls, of course comes the transfer speculation.
Just a season into a four-year contract, Butland may have his fate spelt out in front of him if, as Keown says, he is being snubbed for injured or unreliable alternatives by Southgate simply for not playing for a Premier League club.
He denies he wants to leave Ibrox, but this summer could force his hand if Tuesday doesn’t go in his favour.
