Jack Butland says he 'looked up to' England team-mate Joe Hart
Saturday 26 March 2016 23:59, UK
Jack Butland has described Joe Hart as someone he 'looked up to' as he prepares to replace him in between the sticks for England this weekend.
The goalkeeper is set to start for the Three Lions against Germany on Saturday - and hopefully against the Netherlands on Tuesday - after Hart was injured in Sunday's Manchester derby.
He will face competition from Fraser Forster and Tom Heaton for the spot - and a place on the plane to France for Euro 2016 - but Butland says the England goalkeepers get on extremely well and described Hart as a "modern hero" for him earlier in his career.
"I wasn't a goalkeeper until I was 13 or 14 so before that, my heroes were the likes of Paul Scholes and David Beckham, but since becoming a goalkeeper, I've obviously trained with Joe Hart," Butland told Sky Sports at the launch of England's Euro 2016 kit with Nike.
"We trained together for a couple of years when I was at Birmingham and he was someone who, at the time, was making the moves in the game that I wanted to make.
"He was certainly someone that I looked up to, having trained with him for that year, as a much more modern hero for sure.
"It's very positive between the England goalkeepers. We get on extremely well, and at the end of the day, it's where we work and you want it to be as enjoyable as possible.
"From our point of view as professionals, we want to be competitive and be the best but it's enjoyable at the same time. We push each other on, we congratulate each other and we back each other so there are lots of positive things going on.
From our point of view as professionals, we want to be competitive and be the best but it's enjoyable at the same time. We push each other on.
"It's brilliant, I love coming away because it's always like that and I feel like each time I've gone on a trip with England, I've come away feeling sharper, fitter and better about myself."
England had a poor showing at the 2014 World Cup, where they failed to get out of their group - but followed it up with a 100 per cent record in qualification for Euro 2016.
They face some testing friendlies in the next few months ahead of their June 11 opener against Russia and Butland expects the feeling to be positive in the camp as they build-up to the competition.
"We're obviously very confident. We believe that we have more than enough ability but we're coming up against some tough sides so we're trying to prepare for that, certainly over the next week against Germany and Holland," he added.
"We have a lot of talent in the squad with a number of young players who are coming through and making their way in the game and experienced professionals who are doing the same.
"There's great togetherness between everyone especially after the qualifying campaign that we've had and hopefully some good friendlies coming up that will test us.
"Come the end of it, hopefully the confidence will be even higher and we'll be ready to go so I'm expecting it to be on point with everyone focused and raring to go.
"It's down to us to be ready, but we're confident with the players that we have and the ability that we've got that we can beat anyone. We've shown that over the qualifying campaign and the friendlies so it's down to us to convert that and make sure we do it on the big stage in the Euros."
Despite his relatively young age of 23, Butland is no stranger to international competition, having already been part of the squad for Euro 2012 as well as competing in the Olympics for Team GB.
The stopper believes his 28 appearances for the under-21s gives him a great platform for the upcoming tournament in France.
"I've been fortunate enough to go to many tournaments - the Euros in Poland and Ukraine, two European Championships with the under-21s, the under-20 World Cup and other tournaments with the younger age groups with England where we've been successful as well.
"I've had my fair share and I know what it's like and what it takes to go away for long periods of time, how to keep busy and how to keep focused so I think it will set me up perfectly in terms of experience for the summer and hopefully my performances from this year can add to that.
"I've been working all season and all my career to be No 1. I'll do my best to continue that for the rest of the year to put together as big of a case as I can for myself.
"But ultimately, I want to part of a successful team with England no matter who plays in goal. I'll back and support anyone who is in there and hopefully on a personal note - and more importantly as a team - it's a positive and successful one."
Jack Butland wears England's new 2016 home goalkeeper kit, built for speed with revolutionary Nike Aeroswift innovation. Visit nike.com for more information.
