Jack Butland moves one step closer to Manchester United first team as Tom Heaton picks up injury

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Jack Butland has moved one step closer to Manchester United’s first team after Tom Heaton picked up an injury.

Ask most Manchester United fans to name the club’s three January signings, and two will spring to mind quickly, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer.

As for the third, there might be a bit of head scratching while you try to jog your memory.

Jack Butland‘s name may eventually spring to mind. The goalkeeper was the first of the trio to join, arriving on loan from Crystal Palace.

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Jack Butland moves a step closer

Jack Butland has been a forgotten man because he has not played a single minute for Manchester United.

When he joined, there was initially a possibility that he could feature in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Charlton, with David de Gea set to be rested.

Erik ten Hag opted for Tom Heaton instead. And that is how the pecking order has settled, with Heaton second choice, and Butland third.

Now, Heaton has suffered an ankle injury which will keep him out of action for a few weeks.

He told the club website: “Unfortunately the day before the Fulham game, I rolled my ankle in training.

“Thankfully, it’s not too bad but it’ll mean a couple of weeks out, I think. I should be back some point in April somewhere, hopefully halfway through.”

Heaton added that he is in a protective boot as a precaution at this early stage of his recovery.

This is the reason Ten Hag insisted on signing a third goalkeeper, replacing Martin Dubravka after the Slovakian was recalled to this weekend’s opponents Newcastle.

Butland, 30, has been part of the first team squad since joining, but has not even been named on the bench in a Premier League match since he joined.

The only time he has been on the bench at all was for the Fulham game, with Heaton injured, although the reason why was not clear at that point.

Butland will now be a regular among the substitutes in upcoming games, and while he hopefully won’t be needed, he is one step closer to making his United debut, and will be ready if called upon.