Jack Butland is confident he can keep challenging for England's No 1 shirt despite playing in the Championship.
The Stoke goalkeeper was named in Gareth Southgate's squad for Nations League games against Spain and Switzerland and believes he can still rival Jordan Pickford for a starting role despite relegation.
Butland had opportunity to return to the Premier League in the summer, with Watford among the clubs interested, yet only wanted to leave Stoke for an elite team.
Chelsea weighed up an approach but went for Kepa Arrizabalaga and Butland was happy to stay at the bet365 Stadium to try to win promotion.
Southgate managed Butland for two years at Under-21 level and though the England boss picked Pickford for the World Cup he rates the 25-year-old highly.
Alfie Mawson has revealed he left Swansea for Fulham to ignite his international hopes but Southgate told Butland that performing in the second tier would not hamper his England ambitions.
'I hope if there was an issue I wouldn't have been in this squad,' Butland said. 'I've got a good relationship with the manager and he knows what I'm about, so if I can continue playing well I'd like to think I'll stay in the squad throughout the season.
'We had a great chat in the summer and it was never a case of, 'If you're going to be in the Championship I can't pick you.' He reiterated to me how important I was to him and the squad.
'If I'm not playing well it's a different story. I'm delighted to be a part of it and hopefully that continues.' Stoke warded off interest in Butland with a £30million pricetag and his major focus now is on helping the club bounce back at the first attempt.
'I've never denied the fact I do want to play at the highest level,' he added. 'If an option was to come around like that I've always said I would have to acknowledge it. But I'm really happy here and trying to get the club back in the Premier League.'
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