Jack Butland has admitted there were moments when he feared he might never play again during his lengthy rehabilitation from a fractured ankle as the goalkeeper, now restored to full fitness, targets a fifth cap in England’s forthcoming games against Scotland and France.
The Stoke City player last represented his country in the friendly win against Germany in Berlin in March 2016 but was substituted at half-time after breaking the joint just before the interval. His rehabilitation proved a protracted process and he did not feature for his club side for over a year, returning in a defeat at Swansea City in April, before starting Stoke’s final five games of the Premier League season.
“Being out for so long makes you stronger,” said Butland, whose form at club level had thrust him into direct competition with Joe Hart to be the national team’s No1 prior to his injury. “You reach your lowest point. There are times when you don’t know if you are going to play again, when the next operation or injection might be.
“So there are times when you are at rock bottom, but that’s when you need the people around you: your club, your fans, everything, from little tweets on social media just to give you that bit of reassurance, that bit of positivity …
“I feel like I’ve pretty much experienced everything I can in football. Positive things, winning, losing, the injury side of it all the setbacks. I’m sure there’s plenty more to experience but I’m prepared for whatever is next. It feels extremely, extremely good to be back. It’s been a long time and to get the Three Lions back on my chest after some difficult times is really good, so I’m just thoroughly enjoying being back and looking forward to the week ahead. The worst thing about being injured is just missing out on what you love.”
Butland’s recovery stretched to 13 months, ruling him out of Euro 2016, before he broke back into the Stoke first-team for that final handful of games. “Missing out on being part of a team … it can be a lonely place when you are injured,” he said. “You miss being out there with your team-mates and just experiencing the highs and the lows. It was the drive and belief of wanting to get back to where I was that kept me going. I wanted to make up for all the lost time, missing out on the Euros and missing so many Premier League games. It’s not nice not being able to do something you love.”
The 24-year-old, who worked regularly with Gareth Southgate in the under-21 set-up, is one of four goalkeepers in the squad for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland and Tuesday’s friendly against France. The game at the Stade de France would appear to offer Butland the best opportunity of returning to the side, given Hart remains first-choice, with Fraser Forster and Tom Heaton also included.
“I’m wherever I can get myself to,” added Butland. “I understand that I’ve only played five Premier League games, but I feel I’ve produced really good performances in those games. Whatever rank I am going into these games at the weekend and Tuesday is what I’ll accept. I will back whoever is in front of me, or behind me, 100%.”
Michael Keane, who is absent from this squad through injury, travelled down to St George’s Park on Tuesday to attend Southgate’s team meeting with the manager keen to make the Burnley centre-half feel involved in the set-up.
