Jack Butland ready to battle for Stoke City starting spot

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 04 July 2013

Butland ready to battle for Stoke starting spot

Stoke City keeper Jack Butland is preparing for a battle to win the starting spot in the Potters goal from Asmir Begovic next season.

Stoke City keeper Jack Butland is ready to battle Asmir Begovic for the number one spot at the club this season.

The England international was signed by the Potters in January by then boss Tony Pulis. However, he was loaned straight back to Birmingham City for the rest of their Championship campaign.

Now he has returned to Stoke, the 20-year-old has had to readjust to his surroundings, including a new manager in Mark Hughes.

Butland told talkSPORT: "It is a bit weird. I was signed by Pulis, and now he's gone, but I was never really integrated into the set-up [having returned to Birmingham on loan], so this is a fresh start for everyone and puts everyone on the same page.

"But I've still got to impress the manager and put in the same effort. I was never expecting to walk in as number one.

"I'm still only 20, still learning the game. The target, of course, is to be number one, the same as it is for the other goalkeepers, so I'll go in and try to show the manager what I can do and we'll take it from there."

Butland made 46 appearances for Birmingham last season in their Championship campaign.