For the first time in more than a decade, England have a genuine battle for the goalkeeping jersey, as Stoke City’s Jack Butland followed up another brilliant performance against Newcastle United, with a warning to Joe Hart, that should spice up next month’s worldwide friendlies against Spain and France.
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The draw leaves Newcastle still in the drop zone while Stoke remain in 14th place. “I don’t think Newcastle were peppering his goal to be honest, but he was there when we needed him”, Hughes added.
“Jack Butland was the difference between us getting one point and three points today, but for him we would have won the game”, McClaren told Sky Sports.
Aleksander Mitrovic thought he had handed Newcastle the lead in the 28th minute with a glancing header which beat Butland, but it hit the inside of the post and bounced into the goalkeeper’s grasp. “Of course I want to play (in the European Championships), it is not a case of there being disrespect there”.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes welcomes Butland’s ambition. First, came a stop to deny Georginio Wijnaldum from a free-kick, then he saved from Moussa Sissoko before tipping away a drive by Ayoze Perez. “Unfortunately. we didn’t score one of the chances”. I want to go in there and test myself against Joe.
Jon Walters was denied by a fine save from Rob Elliot, the Newcastle goalkeeper, who McClaren admitted was a doubt beforehand because of a thigh injury and is now unlikely to play next week.
He said: “The key thing is that we look capable of winning games now”.
McClaren also hailed the character of his side after the goal-less draw, singling goalkeeper Rob Elliot out for particular praise, who was struggling with an injury during the game.
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The abrasive Mitrovic’s battle with Stoke central defenders Philipp Wollscheid and Ryan Shawcross threatened to get out of hand at times, but Hughes had no problem with the Serbia international’s contribution. “We are certainly looking at the situation and seeing what we can do because that’s obviously three of our senior goalkeepers out injured”.
