Barnsley have today pulled off a major coup in the loan transfer window by signing England international goalkeeper Jack Butland on a three month deal from Stoke City.
The 20 year old has one full cap for the senior England side but was the No.1 for the Great Britain team at last year’s London Olympics and has represented his country at every level from under 16’s upwards.
Butland was signed by Stoke last summer from Birmingham for an initial fee of £3.3m but he has not been able to wrestle the goalkeeping jersey off Asmir Begovic at the Britannia Stadium which has seen him lose his place in the England squad to the likes of Ben Foster, Fraser Forster and John Ruddy.
The last time Butland received a call-up for Roy Hodgson’s squad was for the 2-1 friendly win over Brazil at Wembley in February.
Most Barnsley supporters will best remember Butland for being in the Birmingham net when The Reds put five past them 12 months ago, four of which were scored by now departed striker Craig Davies.