Jack Butland might’ve been unexpectedly snubbed twice by England during the break, but Philippe Clement insists it’ll do little to derail the Rangers goalkeeper.
That’s because the 31-year-old stopper – who has had an impressive season since moving to Ibrox last summer – is fully focused on delivering success at Ibrox.
Leading up to the last international break, Jack Butland looked a shoo-in for a first England call in over five years as reports gathered around call-up.
But when the names were officially unveiled, it was Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), and Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace) who got the nod.
Things would then take another twist when an injury to one of England’s three stoppers led Gareth Southgate to make a decision on a replacement.
Philippe Clement: Jack Butland still in with England shout
Unfortunately for Jack Butland, the England manager opted instead to call up Burnley’s James Trafford.
Whilst the £19m ex-Man City youth is considered a bright prospect for the future with England, a failure to select Jack Butland planted a devastating blow on the keeper’s Euro 2024 prospects.
The situation is not something which worries Philippe Clement, nor Jack Butland apparently.
Speaking about the goalkeeper’s international situation, Clement is clear that only by focusing on success with Rangers will opportunity knock with England.
And if the stopper can continue to come up big for Rangers, the manager reckons there’s every chance Gareth Southgate could still be watching.
“It’s not finished yet, so of course there is a chance,” said Clement. “It goes on until the day that the selection is made, so there are chances.
“But Jack is not performing to get to the Euros. Jack is performing for the club and to win things here. Then the other things can come.
“Right now, he’s just focused on his training every day to work well and to be decisive for the team, to be there and to be ready.
“I spoke with him of course, because I want to know, to see and to feel how my players are.
“It was a possibility that there was something in his head before the game. But it was totally not the case.”
Jack Butland Rangers stats
- Saves/saves percentage (league) – 56/76.7%
- Appearances (all comps) – 48
- Goals conceded (all comps) – 37
- Clean sheets (all comps) – 23
- Pass accuracy (league) – 79.1%
- Goals prevented (league) – 3.59
- Errors leading to goal (league) – 0
Rangers goalkeeper focused on Ibrox
It would be easy to think that after the England snub, Jack Butland might have some frustrations.
After all, everything seemed to be going so right for the stopper after the switch to Rangers with the notion an England call could elude him in Scotland a sore one to take.
With reported interest from the Premier League, you’d perhaps forgive the stopper for feeling like he needs to be in the English top flight to make the grade with his country.
Philippe Clement was asked about Butland’s reaction to being knocked back from the England squad and insists that the Rangers goalkeeper’s head remains absolutely in the right place.
“I haven’t seen one per cent of a difference,” said Clement. “Like he showed in the game against Benfica, there’s no difference with Jack. That says a lot about his character.
“He’s realistic that the only thing you can do as a player is perform well. Then choices are made by other people.
“It’s the same for all the players. A lot of guys are performing well here, but they’re not playing or in the selection.”
Later asked on the reasons why Gareth Southgate might have snubbed Butland, Clement refused to comment: “I don’t know what people who make the selections think. I cannot make any comment about that.
“I don’t know what the reasons are for yes or no. I will never go into that discussion because I don’t like when people do it to me.
“They don’t know all the facts about why I’m making decisions. I tell my players a lot, but I cannot tell them everything.”
Jack Butland joined Rangers on a free contract in the summer of 2023 after his deal with Premier League Crystal Palace expired.
The goalkeeper has spent the season before on loan at Manchester United although he never played a game for the Red Devils.
Last capped by England against Switzerland in September 2018, an elusive 10th England cap continues to evade Jack Butland.
