Jack Butland has consistently been the best player in Scotland since signing for Rangers.
The Gers number one was the only contender not to have a dip in form and it’s little wonder Philippe Clement has said the 30-year old isn’t for sale.
The £10-15m price tag set by Rangers in January shows perfectly how much Jack Butland is worth to the club, but does Gareth Southgate feel the same way with the England boss naming his provisional squad for the European Championships?
Jack Butland learns England squad European Championships fate
Despite missing out previously, It was clear that Butland was agonisingly close to earning a recall already this season.
Speaking in February before the last international break, Southgate said of the speculation:
“It is up in the air.
“I can’t deny that so again we have to make sure we’re watching everybody – Jack Butland included because he’s obviously playing at a big club and is an experienced keeper.
“It’s not an ideal situation with Aaron not playing, Sam at the moment not playing and Nick injured.
“We’ll have to see how it plays out.”
Aaron Ramsdale still isn’t playing for Arsenal, Nick Pope hasn’t returned from injury and hasn’t played for months either.
James Trafford was dropped by Burnley for conceding 62 goals in 28 games and hasn’t played since the beginning of March.
Sam Johnstone and Dean Henderson are the other competitors.
The fact that they are at the same club always meant that it was one of the other for the Crystal Palace stoppers with the latter getting the nod.
The decision that Southgate has made is mind blowing.
Butland won’t let England chat distract from Rangers duty
It’s an issue that Jack Butland has had to deal with on various occasions this season and his form has never wavered for Rangers with an England recall something that remains a goal, even if Southgate seems intent on disrespecting the 9-cap international:
“I have had my moments, seasons, before where I have been, in my opinion, the best in England.
“All I can do is do what I am doing. I haven’t been in that England squad for a while. If I said it was at the forefront of my mind, no. If it comes, absolutely I would love it.
“Ultimately I have to do the job for Rangers and the fact is that we are playing regularly at the minute, playing in some great competitions, we have got European football to come. So hopefully that is a good platform to continue to showcase that.”
Jordan Pickford will be England’s first choice until there is a change of manager, an injury or a severe loss of form.
With three other places up for grabs in the provisional squad, Butland was the strongest back-up available.
And yet, Southgate incredibly has left him out.
Like his Scottish counter part, Southgate had a few difficult decisions to make, however, picking Rangers player of the year shouldn’t have been one of them.
