Danny Higginbotham hails "outstanding" Jack Butland

Danny Higginbotham has hailed the performances that Jack Butland has produced between the posts for Stoke City this season.

The Potters lost influential goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to Chelsea during the summer, but 22-year-old Butland's displays since then have meant that the Bosnian's influence has not been missed at the Britannia Stadium.

Such form has captured the attention of England manager Roy Hodgson, who handed the youngster a start during the 3-0 victory over Lithuania earlier this week.

Ex-Stoke defender Higginbotham has told Sports Mole that the former Birmingham City keeper is deserving of the international recognition and has tipped him to push established number one Joe Hart for his place in the starting lineup.

"Stoke have done a lot more defending then they would have hoped to do this season, but he's been outstanding. He fully deserves his England recognition and he'll be looking to push Joe Hart," he said.

"He's a young goalkeeper that has got all the attributes. He can become one of the very best goalkeepers that England has seen in a long time.

"England for a while were blessed with a lot of fantastic goalkeepers and now they've got another two in Butland and Hart. He can contest with Hart, there's no question about that."

Butland has let in 10 goals in his eight Premier League outings this term.