After being tipped for a recall, Jack Butland has this afternoon been left out of the England squad for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
The Rangers goalkeeper earnt his first call up to the senior national team in 2012 after having only played senior football for Cheltenham Town but his wait for a recall since 2018 goes on.
With this summer’s European Championships fast approaching, the recently turned 31-year-old will be aiming to be a member of his third major tournament squad after being a part of the 2012 Euros and 2018 World Cup squads.
He already holds the record for England’s youngest ever goalkeeper in an international after debuting against Italy in August 2012 at 19 years and 158 days.
That debut and his subsequent competitive debut against Lithuania in 2015 came after two spells at the Gloucestershire based Robins in which he only conceded 26 goals in 24 League Two appearances.
During his first short spell in 2011, he was nominated for November’s League Two Player of the Month award before returning for the latter months of the same season.
The goalkeeping department is made up of the trusted Jordan Pickford, Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone and the keenly debated Aaron Ramsdale.
Meanwhile, there are call-ups for Jarrad Branthwaite, Joe Gomez, Anthony Gordon, Ivan Toney and Cole Palmer.
Here we go then.
— England (@England) March 14, 2024
Your #ThreeLions for March camp! 🦁
Names left out of the squad include Kalvin Phillips, Raheem Sterling and the injured Jack Grealish.
Meanwhile, Cheltenham’s current number one Luke Southwood was named in the Northern Ireland squad earlier for their friendlies against Romania and Scotland.
