Jack Butland sympathises with Joe Hart form

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 13 November 2013

On-loan Barnsley goalkeeper Jack Butland insists that he sympathises with Joe Hart's situation despite the Man City keeper's dip in form benefiting his England chances.

Jack Butland has insisted that he is not enjoying witnessing Joe Hart's dip in form, despite the fact that it might improve his World Cup chances with England.

Hart has been dropped by Manchester City after a series of errors, and while England boss Roy Hodgson has recently issued public support to his number one, he has admitted that he may have to look at alternatives if the 26-year-old does not regain his starting spot at Eastlands by March.

Stoke City stopper Butland, currently on loan at Championship outfit Barnsley, has one international cap and may be one of the options that Hodgson explores should Hart lose his Three Lions place also.

However, the 22-year-old has stressed that he wants to earn his ticket to Brazil on the basis of his own performances, not because of the misfortune of his goalkeeping colleagues.

"I don't want to see him do badly. I sympathise with him because I've made mistakes and know how it feels," he told reporters. "I want to succeed on my own merit but sometimes those opportunities come around because of situations like this.

"I know Joe very well. He's fully aware of the situation but if there's one thing I know about him it is that he will be absolutely burning inside to get back playing. I'm sure this short stint out of the team will make him even stronger.

"He will come back even better than he ever has done before in the World Cup year. I have total confidence in him, he has had a tough time and when you have the England number one tag it brings a lot more pressure and attention."

Butland was a member of England's 2012 European Championship squad, but has not made a Premier League appearance for Stoke since joining them from Birmingham City in January 2013.