Former Stoke City star Lou Macari wants goalkeeper Jack Butland to start for England against Italy on Tuesday night.
Following injuries to Fraser Forster and Ben Foster, youngster Butland was called up to the Three Lions squad by manager Roy Hodgson for the international fixtures against Lithuania and Italy.
Butland unsurprisingly did not play in the European qualifiers against Lithuania ahead of Joe Hart but former Stoke player Macari has urged Hodgson to start the young goalkeeper in the friendly match against Italy in Turin on Tuesday night.
Writing on his column for the Stoke Sentinel, Macari stated: "Stoke fans will be more interested than usual in England's friendly in Italy tomorrow because there must surely be an appearance for Jack Butland. I really don't see the sense in calling him into the England squad and then letting Joe Hart carry on between the sticks in Turin.
"Surely the main purpose of friendlies - apart from making a few quid for the two associations - is for managers to grab a look at players like Butland.
"He's had plenty of experience for the under-21s and seems to have done really well, but it's a big step up to the senior side and this is a perfect opportunity to see if he's ready to make that jump."
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