Jack Butland says he “loved every minute” of England’s 3-0 win in Lithuania as he earned his second senior cap for his country.
The former Under-21s skipper’s previous outing for the Three Lions at senior level came in August 2012 but he was given the nod with regular no1 Joe Hart rested for the trip to Vilnius.
And Butland was happy to take away a clean-sheet as strikes from Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and an own goal completed an historic ten wins out of ten in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Lithuania v England
UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifier
Group E
7.45pm (BST), Monday 12 October 2015
LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania
“You never get bored of keeping clean sheets,” the Stoke City stopper said when he spoke to FATV after the game.
“It’s a great way to finish off the qualifying campaign - ten out of ten, and it was a very solid performance tonight.
“I loved every minute and it’s always an honour and a proud moment for me to represent my country.
“Any time you get to put on the shirt it’s always enjoyable, no matter how many times you get to do it.
“But the lads defended brilliantly, limited them to few chances, but what I did get I enjoyed.”
He continued: “Coming into this squad after they have done so well, I just wanted to enjoy it and try and help achieve those ten wins so we can take that real belief into those friendlies coming up.”
Phil Jagielka and Jack Butland talk to FATV after the 3-0 win in Vilnius
Barkley’s goal from 25 yards just before the half-hour mark opened the scoring on what was a fairly routine night for Roy Hodgson’s men.
After a man of the match performance in Friday’s win over Estonia from the Everton midfielder, he was in great form again in Vilnius and Butland believes England are lucky to have him.
And the 22-year-old knows Barkley more than most having been team mates together back when they helped England’s Under-17s win the UEFA Championship in 2010.
“We saw him back then at Under-17s level, he was an athlete first, he had extreme power, in the air, both feet, he got around the pitch extremely well,” recalled Butland.
“We all knew he was going to be a great player, it was just how good.
“He’s shown in the last couple of years coming through the England sides and with Everton that he’s got that ability, that vision to finish.
“He’s a fantastic player and one who is going to just get better as he gets older. He’s a brilliant asset to have in the squad.”
Jack Butland lining up for the national anthems in Vilnius
He added: “All three goals were brilliant finishes. I actually didn’t think the first two went in, it almost looked as if they’d hit the back of the goal, it was quite odd from my position.
“Ross’s took a bit of a deflection, Harry ’s was a brilliant strike and hopefully they give him the goal – it might have come back off the keeper - and Chambo’s was a great finish high at the near post,
“That’s the kind of quality we’ve got in this team. The football that was played, the way we got in between the lines and caused them problems, was brilliant.
“Rightly so we got the win.”
England's next home game is against Euro 2016 hosts France at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday 17 November. You can get tickets online now via TheFA.com/tickets
