McCoist ‘very surprised and disappointed’ Butland not in England squad

Published 14/03/2024 at 19:03 GMT

TNT Sports expert Ally McCoist admitted he is “surprised and disappointed” that Jack Butland was not included in the latest England squad. Gareth Southgate selected Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone as his goalkeepers for friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium, despite Butland’s impressive form for Rangers. McCoist pointed to Butland’s regular game time compared to Ramsdale.Jack Butland of Rangers FC looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between SL Benfica and Rangers FC at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on March 07, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Image credit: Getty Images

Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland should have been included in the latest England squad, according to TNT Sports expert Ally McCoist.

Butland was expected to be in contention for selection after impressing for Rangers this season. With rival Nick Pope injured, and Ramsdale getting hardly any game time at Arsenal, his chances of a first call-up since 2019 looked even greater.

With Butland in action for Rangers against Benfica in the UEFA Europa League round of 16, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, McCoist expressed his amazement at the 31-year-old’s exclusion.

“I’m not in a position to tell Gareth his job, but I’m about to now,” he said. “I’m absolutely amazed that he is not in the England squad.”

McCoist also described the idea that Butland might have been overlooked because he did not have many saves to make at Rangers as “a load of nonsense”.

He said: “Along with that logic, maybe Sam Johnstone’s in the squad because he’s a busy goalkeeper with Palace. I’m not so sure.

“Ramsdale hasn’t been playing – Mikel Arteta’s made it abundantly clear that David Raya is his No. 1.

“Jack Butland has been playing on a regular basis up here. And in my opinion, has been playing extremely well. I’ve got to say, I’m very, very surprised, and disappointed for Jack that he’s not in the squad coming up for the two games.”

England’s fixtures against Brazil and Belgium will be the last matches before Southgate picks a provisional squad for Euro 2024.

Kalvin Phillips missed out on a spot in the squad, while Jarrad Branthwaite and Anthony Gordon were called up for the first time.

Butland has made nine appearances for England, his last coming in September 2019.

He joined Rangers in June 2023, and has since kept a league-leading 17 clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership.

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