Jack Butland and Sam Johnstone may be gunning for the same job, but they are still friends off the pitch.
As the race to be England’s number one continues, leading contender Jack Butland has made some interesting comments about one of his rivals.
Butland, who was on the books at Birmingham City for three years, believes that Aston Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone definitely has a chance of competing for the England spot, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
“Defensively, they have been excellent this season and a lot of that is down to Sam,” Butland said. “It is great to see him playing consistently. He has found a home and a club that cares for him, which is so important.
“There is more than just me, Joe and Jordan fighting for the England shirt – Sam is firmly in the mix as well.”
The two men know each other well from their time in the England youth setup and, by the sounds of things, they have maintained a close relationship. The calls for Sam Johnstone to be included in the national team discussions have been ongoing for a while now, with many feeling as if his form has been far superior to that of Joe Hart in particular.
With that being said, it is great to see the ‘keepers supporting each other in such a manner, especially given that Butland is an ex-Blue. Obviously, there is only going to be one spot available at all times but, as goalkeepers, encouraging each other to be better is only going to help England as a whole.
For years now the national team has suffered from having too many egos in the first-team, which could be one of the reasons why the England have failed to make an impact on the world stage. There has been a struggle to find a consistently strong number one for years now and, with so many options to choose from, friendly competition is important so that everyone can continue to grow.
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