Paul Lambert has only just arrived at Stoke City and already Jack Butland has made a big impression.
New Stoke City manager Paul Lambert believes that he has inherited one of the best goalkeepers in Europe in Jack Butland, according to The Stoke Sentinel.
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa boss Lambert was confirmed as Mark Hughes’ successor on Monday and sat in the stands as the Potters fell to a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford that evening.
The Scotsman takes charge of a Stoke side which has the Premier League’s worst defensive record this season, with 50 goals conceded in 23 matches – eight more than any other side.
However, that record is not refective of Butland’s form in between the posts, and Lambert already rates the 24-year-old as one of the best goalkeepers that he has ever worked with.
He is quoted by The Stoke Sentinel as saying: “I think we’ve got one of the best goalkeepers in Europe at the minute, looking at him. I think he’s been exceptional.
“I’ve played with some great goalkeepers and managed some really great ones, and from what I’ve seen so far he [Butland] is one of the best without a doubt.”
During his playing days, Lambert teamed with Scotland legend Jim Leighton at international level and highly-rated Swedish stopper Magnus Hedman at Celtic, and managed Premier League great Shay Given at Aston Villa.
Leighton and Given in particular enjoyed fine careers and to put Butland on a par with them having only worked with him for a couple of days shows how highly Lambert thinks of the Englishman.
With long-standing number one Joe Hart stuck on the bench at West Ham United, Butland will be hoping to establish himself as first choice for England at the World Cup this summer.
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