3 Up, 3 Down: Featuring Newcastle and Crystal Palace stars

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Up: Jack Butland

Joe Hart has been England’s number one for around half a decade now, and in that time has never looked like losing his jersey. However, as we build up to 2016, he may have just found some real competition in Stoke City’s Jack Butland.

Aged just 22, Butland has probably been the most impressive goalkeeper in the league in 2015/16, making a division high 77 saves. Against Arsenal, the league leaders, Butland was always set to have another busy day between the sticks, and he excelled himself again. His save from Olivier Giroud was as vital as it was spectacular, as Arsenal spent a frustrating 90 minutes failing to beat the young Englishman.

It’s not as if today was an isolated performance. Butland has shown that he is already one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers, and is certain to be on the plane to France with England this summer. If he continues like this, he may just even make the first team.