Gareth Southgate has warned Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland he faces a tough job retaining his place in the England squad as long as he continues in the Championship.
The Potters were relegated from the Premier League last season and Butland has failed to secure a move away to a top-flight club this summer.
Butland has been included in Southgate’s 23-man squad for next month’s internationals against Spain and Switzerland but may not have been so fortunate if Nick Pope was available.
Southgate rewarded Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy with his first ever senior call-up and would arguably had taken Butland’s spot had Pope not be sidelined through injury.
The Three Lions boss was keen to stress he does not want to pressurise players to move clubs, but conceded Championship football could work against Butland in future squads.
“There are four or five maximum still playing in the Premier League - obviously Jack [Butland] has dropped into the Championship and he’s now going to have a challenge to stay in the squad,” BBC Sport quote Southgate as saying.
Stoke have made a disastrous start to the new season, which also does Butland no favours. The Potters were pre-season favourites to get promoted but languish down in 17th after five matches.
Only three goalkeepers have conceded more goals than Butland in the Championship this season (9).
