Butland looking to follow in footsteps of legendary Rangers keepers

New Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland is looking to follow in the footsteps of legendary Ibrox stoppers and bring some success to the blue-side of Glasgow.

The 30-year-old, who has nine-England caps, spent last season on loan to Manchester United as backup to Spaniard David De Gea.

But after his Crystal Palace contract came to an end at the end of last season he decided to move north and take over the number one spot from outgoing veteran Allan McGregor following his retirement.

And Butland, who has also played for Stoke City and had a spell at Leeds cited the success of McGregor and Ibrox hero Andy Goram as the levels he aspires to reach in Scotland.

He said: “You are talking about two goalies – ‘The Goalie’ (Goram) and Greegsy (McGregor) – two guys who have an incredible history with the club.

“They knew what Rangers was about. Watching the memorial video to Andy Goram the other day, painted a picture of what he was like, what he meant to the club and what the club meant to him.

“I think that’s what this club is all about. It has a rich history of top goalkeepers and that is something that I will be looking to continue both on and off the pitch, trying to learn about the club, enjoy it, take it all in and hopefully follow in their footsteps which, of course, is a big ask because of what they have done.”

Butland won the last of his nine England caps in a friendly win over Switzerland in 2018 and has not given up hope of a return to the international fold but insists it is not his priority.

“I am a patriotic guy,” he said. “My country has always been important to me. To have represented them in the past is an honour.

“Of course I would love to get back to that.

“It is not my sole focus. My focus is to be successful at club level and that is to do my job here and whatever happens with that (England), I have always said, that will take care of itself. That is for others to decide.

“That will only happen if we are doing what we need to do here and I am playing well enough, which at the moment is my sole focus and if that comes, that is a bonus.”

Butland is one of five new signings boss Michael Beale has made this summer and the Ibrox club are on the brink of completing a deal with Cremonese for 28-year-old Nigeria forward Cyriel Dessers.

Rangers on Tuesday announced a friendly against Olympiacos at Ibrox on Wednesday, July 26, to complete their pre-season diary alongside fixtures against Newcastle, Hamburg and Hoffenheim.