Jack Butland will start in goal for England against Costa Rica in the warm-up match ahead of the World Cup.

Jordan Pickford started in the 2-1 win over Nigeria on Saturday, pundits think Pickford has been handed the No 1 shirt by Gareth Southgate.

Jack Butland has not given up hope of becoming England’s first-choice goalkeeper and is determined to prove his worth against Costa Rica.

“Until there is an official announcement whereby I’m not playing then I will keep fighting and I’ll pushing and staking my claim to be the No 1, regardless of shirt number,” he said.

“We’ll see what happens. I’ll push myself as hard as I can and push the others as hard as I can as well.”

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Stoke City are in talks with Joe Allen over a new contract.

Manager Gary Rowett wants Joe Allen to spearhead the club’s promotion charge next season.

Allen has three years left to run on his current deal, but now Stoke City automatically gave a pay-cut following the club’s relegation — this is the reason for fresh talks.

Stoke paid in the region of £13.5million for Joe Allen when he joined from Liverpool in 2016.

Talks are on going at this period but Stoke City are remaining confident keeping Joe Allen to help them to push for automatic promotion.

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GARY ROWETT was confirmed as the NEW Stoke City manager on Tuesday evening.

The former Derby County, Birmingham City and Burton Albion boss put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal. In his interview with the Stoke City he said –

“This has come around quite quickly, but I am absolutely delighted to make the move to such an ambitious football club,”.

“This is a Club that has had amazing stability over the years, has been established in the Premier League for some time and the challenge for me now is, of course, to get Stoke City back into that division as soon as possible.

“My ambition has always been to one day manage in the Premier League, and having been in the Championship for three years now I feel this is a great opportunity for me to do that.”

“We have to make sure that the guys who report back for the first day of pre-season first and foremost want to be at Stoke City, and that they are willing to put in the desire and effort, that not only I want, but what Stoke City and the supporters of this Club want as well.”

Why not have your own say on our facebook page – Stoke Loud & Proud.

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Derby County boss Gary Rowett is set to join Stoke City and will be announced at some point today according to Stoke Loud & Proud Sources.

When the news broke about Gary Rowett, Fans of Derby started to question, what players would Gary try to convince to join him at his new club Stoke City?

After long talks with Gary, Stoke City have assured Gary there will be strong backing financially and he will be given plenty of say in the transfer market. According to sources, Gary has already has insight bringing Matěj Vydra along to his new club Stoke City.

The Czech Republic international has scored 22 goals in all competitions this season and Derby are likely to be asking at least £8m for the striker.

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Stoke City boss says “he is keeping everything crossed that his stunning record at Liverpool remains intact beyond this weekend”…

“It is a strange one, and I suppose every person in the game has a team or a stadium that they particularly do well against, and mine happens to be Liverpool at Anfield,” he smiled.

“I have to admit that I have had a little bit of luck there before, winning as a player and as a manager, and against Liverpool I think you need that.”

“For some strange reason my record is decent there. Why that is I really don’t know – I can’t put my finger on it.

“I know how tough it is there though, trust me, it is one of the toughest places to o not just in England but in Europe.”

He also added: “The guys who have performed for me there before have deserved the credit, and hopefully the lads here will be getting the same headlines this weekend too.”

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