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Jack Butland will be more hungry than ever this World Cup

By Kian Long

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Jack Butland of England reacts during the International friendly between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Jack Butland of England reacts during the International friendly between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Jack Butland was forced to miss EURO 2016, so this World Cup will mean the world to him, if you pardon the pun.

Recent seasons haven’t been easy for Jack Butland. The 25 year old is coming towards his peak age, but he still hasn’t been given a big opportunity to prove himself.

He thought that opportunity had come in 2016, as the European Championships approached and he was the pinnacle of Roy Hodgson’s plans. However, an injury in the buildup to the competition left him out for both club and country.

It was the friendly against England’s long-time rivals Germany which set him aside. It was heartbreaking for both him and any England fan, as he was the Three Lions’s next big thing. His domestic performances impressed enough for him to be in contention, but it simply wasn’t to be.

This season has told a different tale for Butland. In true fashion, his performances between the sticks have been exceptional, but Stoke City were still relegated to the second tier of English football.

This looks bad on Butland, but he was still one of the stand-out performers in the Premier League. Truth is, if it wasn’t for the shot-stopper, Stoke’s situation would have looked a lot worse.

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He is far too good to be a second-tier player, which is why he’ll be looking for a move away. Top teams, especially in the Premier League, will be watching him closely this summer, and he’ll know this.

That said, the pressure could get too much, but he doesn’t seem like he’ll crumble any time soon. A big performance on a big stage could be the turning point of his career, and solidify a big stature.

He is likely to be England’s first choice goalkeeper, over the inexperienced Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope. He won’t have huge gloves to fill following Joe Hart’s dismissal, but he will in terms of sentimentality to the fans.

The fans will be right behind him, as it’s always positive to see a change. Gareth Southgate made a bold move to not take Hart to Russia, but it needed to be done following poor form with West Ham.

Jack Butland will use his tall and broad frame to his advantage. He will have a hard time keeping the likes of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku out in the group stage, but he’s used to facing them in the Premier League.

Next: AC Milan youngster could be on the move

Do you think Jack Butland will have a big tournament?

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