Manchester United target Jack Butland was injured by Anthony Martial in pre-season

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Manchester United are eyeing a move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland, reports The Telegraph.

Butland is being considered as a back-up after Newcastle decided to recall Martin Dubravka.

Whether Crystal Palace allow him to leave on loan remains to be seen, however, they are well stacked in goal thanks to Vicente Guaita, and the summer signing of former United youngster Sam Johnstone.

In fact, Butland has not played a single game for Palace all season.

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023

Butland was injured by Anthony Martial

Former England international Jack Butland has been a Crystal Palace player since he signed from Stoke City in 2020.

But he has largely been used as a back-up to Guaita, and is currently third choice.

This hasn’t been helped by an injury Butland suffered in pre-season playing for Crystal Palace – against Manchester United.

Butland sustained an injury when saving a shot from Anthony Martial’s powerfully struck effort in the 3-1 meeting in Australia.

Butland left the pitch with a broken finger, as the The Athletic reported: “Butland, 29, suffered the injury when he denied Anthony Martial from close range.”

There are unlikely to be any hard feelings between the pair – the injury was totally accidental, and Martial himself suffered a pre-season injury two games later against Atletico Madrid.

More serious will be United’s medical department seeking assurances that Butland has made a full recovery.

The 29-year-old has not played a game since – although he has made the Eagles bench. He could soon be swapping this for the bench at Manchester United.