Can Crystal Palace recall Jack Butland? Many fans have been asking after Sam Johnstone suffered a serious injury.
The England international was loaned to Manchester United for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign back in January, after the Red Devils sent Martin Dubravka back to Newcastle.
However, Patrick Vieira has now been left with Vicente Guaita as his only senior option for weeks – maybe months – after Johnstone was ruled out until at least the end of March with a calf injury.
Alan Nixon of The Sun believes the issue could even keep the 29-year-old out for most of the remaining fixtures.
So, can Crystal Palace recall Butland? Let’s take a look…
Can Crystal Palace recall Butland?
Well, Vieira will have to hope Johnstone’s recovery goes smoothly.
Crystal Palace cannot recall Butland from Manchester United – according to London News Online.
The south Londoners also have another senior goalkeeping option out on loan in Remi Matthews, who is at St Johnstone until the end of the campaign.
London News Online add that the 29-year-old also cannot be recalled to Selhurst Park.
Therefore, if Guaita was to suffer an injury of his own, Vieira would be left with 19-year-old Owen Goodman and the 18-year-old Joe Whitworth as his goalkeeping options.
Goodman was on the bench at Selhurst Park earlier this season as Crystal Palace recorded a 2-1 win over Wolves.
However, Whitworth, one year younger than the Canada Under-20 international, has been named on the bench six times by Vieira in the Premier League this term.
Therefore, it would seem as if the Frenchman has more faith in the England Under-18 international than he does in Goodman.
Ultimately, Vieira will hope that it doesn’t come down to that, or his decision to loan out Butland will come under the spotlight if Crystal Palace’s teenage goalkeeping options struggle.
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