RANGERS hero Graeme Souness reckons Jack Butland issued a timely reminder to new England boss Thomas Tuchel with his Europa League penalty heroics on Thursday night.
The 32-year-old has nine caps for his country – but none since 2018 – with new boss Tuchel naming four other keepers in his first selection only yesterday.
Jack Butland is mobbed by his team-mates[/caption]
Graeme Souness at the recent Shooting Stars charity match[/caption]
Jack Butland saves from Fred[/caption]
Those men are Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson and James Trafford – but Souness for one reckons Butland is the reason Rangers are in the Europa League quarter finals and sees no reason why he can’t get himself in the mix.
Souness wrote in his Daily Mail column: “I’m a big fan of Jack Butland and he is the reason that Rangers are in the Europa League quarter-finals.
“He was the difference between Rangers and Fenerbahce on Thursday night and maybe provided a timely reminder for Thomas Tuchel as he named his England squad.
“Rangers have not had much to shout about of late but I wish I had been at Ibrox because I know what a special atmosphere those European nights can create.
“They played second fiddle to Jose Mourinho‘s side for most of the game but dug in and found away to win.”
The Ibrox side have nothing other than pride to play for in the Premiership this season – but Souness also notes that a former Celtic manager in Ange Postecoglou might need to secure the Europa League trophy to save his job.
Spurs sneaked past AZ Alkmar to reach the last eight and are in the other half of the draw from Rangers and Athletic Bilbao.
Souness said: “Winning the Europa League might be the only way Ange Postecoglou remains in the Tottenham job.
“Indeed, he must rue the day he declared that he always wins something in the second season.
“Standing 13th in the Premier League was never going to be in Daniel Levy‘s plan when they built that stadium and training ground.
“They envisaged being in the Champions League and competing to win something every year.
“They have had a lot of injuries but that is not unique to Spurs and others have coped better than they have.”
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