Gareth Southgate "watching" Jack Butland ahead of Euro 2024
While Three Lions number one Jordan Pickford continues to line up unopposed in the Everton XI, Southgate is facing a couple of unwanted dilemmas with his usual backup options.
Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone have often played second fiddle to Pickford in recent England camps, although the pair have now been demoted to the number twos at their clubs as well.
Despite keeping 14 Premier League clean sheets last season, Ramsdale has lost his place in the Arsenal team to David Raya, while Johnstone has not played for Crystal Palace in the Premier League since December, with countryman Dean Henderson guarding the sticks in the past several weeks.
Newcastle United's Nick Pope — who has struggled to force his way into Three Lions squads when fully fit — is also nursing a long-term shoulder injury, leaving Southgate with few options to pick from when it comes to selecting English goalkeepers playing regular football.
However, 30-year-old Butland — who joined Rangers on a free transfer last summer — has excelled in the Scottish Premiership, only conceding 12 goals in 24 games and keeping a remarkable 15 clean sheets.
Butland has already earned nine senior England caps, but the former Manchester United and Stoke City man was last called up in 2019, and not since September 2018 has he played for his country.
Despite his recent lack of international experience, Butland — who was on the bench throughout the 2018 World Cup — is on Southgate's radar as the England boss seeks solutions to the Three Lions' goalkeeping predicament.
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