Stoke manager Paul Lambert claims Jack Butland can rival Manuel Neuer as best goalkeeper in world
While Neuer’s broken foot has restricted the Bayern Munich keeper to just four appearances this season, Butland has shipped 40 goals in 21 games with only two clean sheets
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PAUL LAMBERT heads into his first match as Stoke boss backing Jack Butland to rival Manuel Neuer as the world’s number one No 1.
While Neuer’s broken foot has restricted the Bayern Munich keeper to just four appearances this season, Butland has shipped 40 goals in 21 games with only two clean sheets.
But Lambo has total faith in his stopper and claimed the 24-year-old, who had been repeatedly linked with Liverpool, is going Neuer-where — except up the table.
Lambert said: “Jack is one of the best keepers around — not just in England but in Europe.
“I can’t stop speculation but there is absolutely no way he is going anywhere in January, no chance.
“I have spoken to the owners and there’s no way that could happen.
“We need everybody, we certainly need our best players to perform to the level they can.”
At the start of the season Butland would have been most people’s tip to replace Joe Hart in England’s World Cup line-up.
Once new West Ham chief David Moyes demoted Hart to the bench, the path should have been clear for Butland.
But Stoke’s appalling stats as the worst defence in the Premier League undermined his claims and opened the door for Everton’s Jordan Pickford. Lambert, though, believes once he sorts out their defence Butland will return to the fore.
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Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Lambert, 48, frequently doubles up as a TV pundit covering the Bundesliga and is perfectly placed to compare Butland to Neuer.
Lambert said: “Neuer has been one of the best in the world for years, with his hands and his feet.
“On Monday I saw Jack against Manchester United and that boy is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
“He had absolutely no chance at any of the goals.
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“What a top, top keeper he is. Not just on the pitch, off the pitch Jack carries himself brilliantly too.
“It’s not just him who has conceded goals, it’s every area of the team.”
Stoke have dropped to 18th and host Huddersfield today — who must face the Alpine Rory Delap.
New £5million signing Moritz Bauer can launch huge throw-ins just like the Potters legend.
The Swiss-born Austrian, 25, joined from Russia’s Rubin Kazan last week.
He said: “I’ve never measured how far I can throw so don’t know how I would measure up to Rory.
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“I can throw it well into the box and, with a bit of support from the Stoke weather and the wind behind me, even further!
“I don’t know a lot about Rory but it’s good to know the fans appreciated his talent.”