Stoke City No2 Mark Bowen is delighted with the early season form of Jack Butland.

England boss Gareth Southgate was in the stands during Saturday's win over Arsenal when Butland's goalkeeping will have done nothing to dissuade him from naming Stoke's number one as England's number one for the very first time.

"I can't give Jack enough praise," enthused Bowen to The Sentinel, "and we feel at this club that he's certainly England's number one and he proved it again on Saturday.

"At key times in the game he made special saves for us, but it's not just his ability on the pitch, which is his number one factor, but also the type of person he is, how he carries himself and what he brings to the dressing room.

"Take nothing away from Lee Grant, because everyone saw what a job he did for us last year playing a key role in our season, but to have Jack fit and available for every game, and in the dressing room, is immeasurable.

"Through the season, when you think how many saves he makes for you, how many points he gets for you, they (goalkeepers) don't get held in the same regard as strikers in terms of winning games for you, but they are just as important."