Butland looking to regain spot at Stoke

Cape Town - Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland knows he has a fight on his hands to displace Lee Grant as the team's first choice keeper when he returns from injury.

Butland sustained an ankle injury on international duty with England in March 2016 and is yet to regain match fitness. In his absence, former Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant has excelled with nine clean sheets.

"He (Grant) knows I want the shirt, I know he wants to keep it and that's the way it is," the 24-year-old Butland told reporters.

"He's done fantastically... He's succeeded in everything he's been asked to do. I am thrilled for him. We've known each other for a while and we push each other.

"I'll have a good week of training while the boys are away on international duty and hopefully that'll get me up to speed and then I can join up fully with the rest of the squad next week."

Butland has recovered from injury ahead of schedule after Stoke manager Mark Hughes was cautious about his return to Premier League action after the goalkeeper announced his successful recovery.

Hughes previously suggested that the England international may need to wait until next season before he returns to the first team.