Sunday 25 March 2018 23:41, UK
Jack Butland is thriving on the "intense" competition between England's goalkeepers and insists there will be no bad blood when Gareth Southgate names his World Cup No 1.
The Stoke 'keeper is set to start against Italy at Wembley on Tuesday and needs to keep pace with Everton's rising star Jordan Pickford, who made it two clean sheets from two appearances after Friday's 1-0 win in Holland.
He also faces competition from long-serving first-choice Joe Hart, while uncapped Burnley man Nick Pope has also been training with the squad for the first time.
But Butland claims the internal battle only serves to drive up standards across the board.
"It's a good thing isn't it, having competition? I enjoy it," said Butland.
"Training between all of us is extremely intense. Obviously it's one we're all trying to take for ourselves but ultimately whoever deserves it, whoever the manager feels, will get it and we're all trying to do our bit to make sure it's us.
"The manager will make his decision when he's ready, until that time and even beyond that time we'll all be battling to show who is best. I think that's a great way to go into a World Cup, the fact not knowing who it is just yet shows the competition is great and whoever it will be is going to be coming off a battle, which is what we want."
On the mood of friendly rivalry at play within the goalkeeper's union, Butland added: "It's a great group and we back each other - whoever it's been in the team everyone has always supported them.
"Ultimately that's how you become a winning team and become successful. It's not by turning your head at people or being a bad egg, that doesn't work for anyone."
