Jack Butland has been a ‘shining success’ since leaving Manchester United with the England international making quite the impact north of the border at Rangers.
As questions start to arise in some sections about Andre Onana’s shot-stopping ability – questions which, for the most part, ignore the fact that Manchester United’s new £47 million signing has been afforded little protection by his defence – there are certainly no such concerns about the performances of a goalkeeper who left Old Trafford during the summer transfer window.
Jack Butland did not make a single appearance during a five-month loan spell at the Red Devils. But like Joe Hart before him, the experienced England international is making up for lost time on the other side of Hadrian’s Wall; Butland’s impact at Rangers as instantaneous and as eye-catching as Hart’s down the road at Celtic.
Jack Butland brilliant after Manchester United exit
“Michael (Beale, Rangers’ head coach) has made nine new signings. And many of them need to step up and deliver much more. (But) Jack Butland has been a shining success and has made many, many good saves already,” says Sir Kenny Dalglish, the Celtic and Liverpool legend putting his allegiances aside while hailing a man with Rangers and Manchester United on his CV (Sunday Post).
Butland, labelled a ‘really skilful goalkeeper’ by Erik ten Hag after arriving from Crystal Palace in January, is already building up quite the collection of virtuoso performances in his new Ibrox home.
Rangers may have been on the wrong end of a 5-1 hammering by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League play-offs, but they might not have even got that far if it wasn’t for the 30-year-old’s feline reflexes earlier on in the qualification phase.
‘An unbelievably good signing’
“I’m so surprised they’ve got Jack Butland,” former Ibrox ace Neil McCann told BBC Scotland after Butland saved Rangers’ skin against Servette of Switzerland.
“I thought that was an unbelievably good signing. To replace someone of the stature of Allan McGregor with someone like this guy… He’s at a good age, and I think he’s got so much left in him.”
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“I was astounded he chose to come to Rangers over staying in the English Premier League. He must have had options!
“This guy makes big saves.”
The Scottish Sun had reported Manchester United were interested in signing Butland as a free agent, however, he wanted to play first team football and his decision to do so looks like it is paying off already.