Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland is confident of a return in the coming weeks.

Butland, who is currently undergoing personal rehabilitation in Qatar, is hoping to be available for selection again by early April.

His agent Gary Mellor told The Sentinel: “He's feeling absolutely great now because he can see clear light at the end of the tunnel.

“He was in the office last week before going to Qatar and was in fantastic spirits.

“By the time he gets back to playing it will have been 12 months, which should have been three months, so there's been some really down periods for him. But he's in a great place now and ready to go.

“He hopes to be back on the grass playing competitive games for the under-23s before the end of March, hopefully mid to late-March.

“Then hopefully he will be challenging Lee Grant for the last six or seven games of the season."