Jack Butland made an incredible save in Kilmarnock to send a message to England manager Gareth Southgate as Rangers’ hold on the top spot was in jeopardy.
The Gers were behind 1-0 at Rugby Park going into halftime, and the game against Derek McInnes’s resolute and well-organized Kilmarnock team seemed doubtful for the team.
Butland has subsequently disclosed that a controversial half-time reminder refocused Rangers’ goals at the break. Rangers found it difficult to settle against Killie, who were good value for their lead.
However, Rangers might have eventually faltered in 2024 under Philippe Clement if the custodian hadn’t produced an incredible save to deny Kilmarnock’s Marley Watkins shortly into the second half.
Jack Butland demonstrates England’s eligibility for Euro 2024
The way Jack Butland stooped down to stop Watkins’ goal-bound shot encapsulates the reason England boss Gareth Southgate is keeping a watch on the Rangers custodian for Euro 2024.
Nine-time cap Jack Butland hasn’t been a member of the Three Lions team in more over five years, and rumours have it that he may be called up for the friendly against Brazil and Belgium.
Gareth Southgate simply had to take a quick look at Rangers’ eventual 2-1 triumph over Kilmarnock to have any doubts about the goalkeeper’s ability to win games.
If Jack Butland hadn’t stopped the Kilmarnock striker, Rangers would have faced a daunting task of two goals and would have even lost their lead in the Scottish Premiership.
The save eliminates any remaining doubt that Jack Butland is a custodian for the big games and that he possesses the star quality to play in England’s Euro 2024 preparations.
The Rangers custodian is essential to Kilmarnock.
Derek McInnes, the manager of Killie, didn’t miss the Rangers goalkeeper’s enormous impact.
When the Rangers goalkeeper was questioned about the incident following the game, the Killie manager stated that Jack Butland’s save represented the talent that separated the two teams.
Butland called it a “huge moment” and said the team used that boost of confidence to go on and win the game.
“It was a big moment, to be honest,” Butland said on RangersTV. It is good to have that moment, and occasionally it may knock the wind out of a team’s sails as well. I believe the boy felt he had scored.
“It was nice to contribute with that and ultimately set us up for a really big second half. It seemed to give us a lift. If that continues, it could have gone a little bit sideways at that point.”
This season, Jack Butland has made 43 appearances for Rangers, giving up 31 goals and maintaining 22 clean sheets.
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