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Butland happy to be back
Stoke goalkeeper returns to action after ankle injury
Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland says he is ready for the new Premier League season after four months out with an ankle injury.
Butland, 23, missed the Euro 2016 finals after suffering a fractured ankle on England duty in March, but returned to play 45 minutes of the Potters’ 3-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Championship side Burton Albion on Saturday.
Butland played the first half at the Pirelli Stadium, keeping a clean sheet, before being replaced by Jakob Haggard at the interval.
"I’m really pleased to be back and get some minutes under my belt," he told stokecityfc.com.
"From a mental point of view as well, the last time I was on pitch I broke my ankle, so to get through that and feel what it’s like to be back on the pitch is really good.
"I felt good, I felt strong and my ankle feels really good as well which is really positive. Initially after the operation I wasn’t doing a lot.
"I concentrated on getting the swelling down and getting the movement back and over the summer. I came in two weeks early and there was always someone from the medical team on hand to help me through stuff.
"They’ve ultimately got me back to where I am, which is fit and playing with no pain, so a lot of credit has to got to them."
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