Paul Ince shares ‘honest’ Jack Butland England verdict in new Rangers admission live on air
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland won’t be called up by Gareth Southgate for this summer’s European championship, according to Paul Ince.
The 30-year-old stopper has been in excellent form for Philippe Clement’s side this season and has been touted for a return to the national side recently, with Southgate understood to have made an effort to watch him in action.
Despite Butland’s exploits at Ibrox, Ince believes the Three Lions boss will instead stick with Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale for this summer’s tournament because of the lower standard of the Premiership.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday (4 March, 11:56) he said: “I don’t think he will if I’m being totally honest. I think Pope’s back now in training, I think he’s going to be number two to Pickford. Ramsdale will probably be in there so I think the three goalkeepers are there already.
“Jack’s done ever so well, but sometimes when you’re over there and you look at the kind of competition you’re up against. No disrespect to the Scottish Premiership, if you’re playing in goal for Rangers or Celtic, you’re expected to have a number of clean sheets for sure.
“That goes without saying. It’s great that he’s doing well, but as far as when it comes to European selection, I’m not too sure. It depends on Pope. All Jack has to do is keep doing what he’s been doing and hopefully, he gets the call.”
Will Rangers keeper Jack Butland be picked by England for Euro 2024?
Anybody who has watched Butland this season will have been impressed by the goalkeeper’s displays in a Rangers shirt as he has been arguably the Light Blues best player under both Clement and Michael Beale this term.
The Englishman has barely put a foot out of line across the entire campaign and has made a number of excellent saves that have not only kept the Gers in matches but ultimately in the title race with Celtic this season.
It seems ridiculous that Butland could miss out on an international call-up because two keepers in Pope and Ramsdale, who have barely played all season, are more deserving of a place on the plane to Germany than the Gers keeper.
Hopefully, Southgate shows more sense than Ince and calls upon Butland for the international fixtures in March and if the 30-year-old impresses, he simply has to be on the plane to Germany this summer.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has shared a new “funny” title race verdict following Celtic’s defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle
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