Jack Butland still has international ambitions and will believe Rangers can reopen the door to his England career.
Former Inverness and Hibs goalkeeping coach Steve Marsella did a number of scouting reports on the former England No.1 when he was at Stoke and is full of praise for the shot-stopper. Butland already has nine caps but hasn’t pulled on the Three Lions shirt for five years and it is an ambition to force his way back into Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Marsella knows Butland, at 30, is still very much at his peak and believes he will look to use his time at Ibrox to showcase his talents again. Marsella said: “I think the Rangers fans will love him. That postage stamp will be his. He’ll be right up there clawing the ball out of the top corner, mark my words. Jack is going to Rangers to be No.1. It is a big decision for him to go there but he will believe in himself.
“He will be going there to play for Rangers, prove a point and get back into the England squad. The thing about Rangers is that he will be established, challenging for trophies and playing in Europe.
“They’ll be a lot more stable, in terms of performances, than Stoke were when I was watching Jack. Jack will be looking to hit the levels he has in the past. That got him in the England squad and can get him back in there.”
Marsella knows Butland won’t only be Gers’ last line of defence but can also be the source of attacks for Michael Beale’s side, although his first fight will be to prove he should start ahead of Robby McCrorie. He confirmed: “Jack is a great shot stopper. He will get to things you don’t expect him to save.
“Jack will be the same as any goalkeeper. The more games he plays the better he will get and the back four or five will become really comfortable with Jack behind them. Jack’s also good with his feet and his distribution is excellent, from the punt, throws or the half-volley.
“Jack’s a good, solid modern-day keeper. He can take it from either side and is good at starting quick attacks. ”
Marsella watched Butland closely when he was at Stoke, in the English Championship. He battled with Asmir Begovic and Thomas Sorensen for the gloves in a frustrating spell at the Potteries. Former Kilmarnock talent spotter Marsella admitted: “I watched Jack quite a lot and did a lot of reports on him for his agents, Paul Stretford and Bryan Gunn.
“They asked me to watch him and give my views as a goalkeeping coach and former keeper about where his game was at. He was playing for Stoke at the time and had already been in England squads and played in the Premier League. His aim was to get back into the England squad and I know that is still his aim."
Marsella covered a number of Butland’s games including when he was the hero in a penalty shootout. Not for a save but for scoring the winning penalty for in the cup at Leeds.
So that could be an unexpected bonus for Beale when Rangers go into knockout competitions. Marsella said: “I remember there was a cup game I went to see him play. Jack has the highest of standards.
“That night he didn’t have his greatest game but the funny thing was that he was the hero in the shootout. He scored the winner at Elland Road to put Stoke City through.”
Butland made his big senior breakthrough at Birmingham and those early years catapulted him into the England set-up. After his move to Stoke he had a number of early loans back at Birmingham, Barnsley, Leeds United and Derby County.
He got his chance back in the Premier League with Crystal Palace and then at Manchester United. He was a back-up at Old Trafford and had the chance to remain under Erik ten Hag but chose to relaunch his career with Gers. Butland’s lack of playing time has also seen the likes of Jordan
Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope push well ahead of him in terms of the England squad. Butland hopes his move to Glasgow will see him back challenging them. Marsella confirmed: “In all honesty, Jack was playing for a Stoke team who weren’t very good at the time.
“They were struggling a bit after they’d been relegated and a lot of their wages were tied up in big contracts. The good thing for Jack was that he got plenty of action because that Stoke team wasn’t the strongest. Jack did well, kept his place and then he won his move back to the top flight with Palace.
“He was patient and he waited for his opportunity, got it and then won that move to Manchester United. I know he could have stayed there, but did he want to be on the bench or third choice?
“I’m sure he’s taken a wage cut to play for Rangers every week. His aim will be to get back into that England squad.”
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