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Jack Butland Has A Surprise Pick For England's Best Player

Jack Butland Has A Surprise Pick For England's Best Player

The Stoke goalkeeper is fighting for the number one spot for the World Cup with a few other keepers.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Working out who England's best player is must certainly be easier than choosing who from the mid range of talent actually gets in the final 30 for the World Cup this summer. Not for Jack Butland though, the keeper has chosen someone the rest of us wouldn't.

Will Jack Butland be England's number one in Russia this summer? Well he doesn't know, Gareth Southgate doesn't know and we sure as hell don't know. It could be Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Tom Heaton or for some reason it could still be Joe Hart.

Most countries probably have their goalkeeper situation sorted but not England. But then for Southgate that's just the start of his problems as so much of his side will be lacking the talent to distinguish itself from many of the players who won't be going.

Check out our England what might have been XI:

At least England do have some very good players and some of them in terrific form this season. Raheem Sterling, for example, is a different man from the player who was at the Euros in France two years ago.

Of course England's hopes of not embarrassing themselves could fall to Harry Kane, arguably the best striker in the world, but according to Butland he's not actually England's best player. Speaking to Soccer AM the Stoke number one was asked who England's best is and he said:

"If it wasn't for his injuries, someone like Jack Wilshere. His all-round game, he loves a tackle. He can also be a bit of a hard man and get stuck in, but incredibly technical with a great ability.

"Jack's been very unfortunate with injuries. Everyone knows what he's like in his prime, his ability to glide past people and put the ball on right on the spot for people.

"And then his ability to break up the game, and his England record for goals is pretty good. He loves a long-range strike, he's got it all." A fit Jack Wilshere is certainly up there for me."

Wilshere?! Really?! Image: PA Images
Wilshere?! Really?! Image: PA Images

If Wilshere truly is the best players than England have to offer, and I question that quite a lot, then Southgate is to be without his best player for Friday night's game with Netherlands.

It was finally the Arsenal man's chance to get his place back in the side after being out of it since Euro 2016 with World Cup places for Russia up for grabs. Unfortunately injuries have done for him once again.

Who is England's best player?

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Topics: Football News, Jack Butland, Russia 2018, Jack Wilshere, England, Dele Alli, World Cup, Harry Kane