9 Jack Butland – Stoke City
When Jack Butland looks back on this season he will have mixed feelings that vary to extremes, with the Englishman being undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers midway through the Premier League season, earning him a much-awaited call up for his national side. However, it was on England duty that he suffered a terrible injury that ruled him out of the season and Euro 2016.
Despite missing the final two months of the season, the 23-year-old has been voted Stoke City’s Player of the Year, after which he was full of gratitude, saying “Football is a passion of mine and I will always try to give everything I have to help the team pick up positive results, so for the fans to vote for me as their Player of the Year means a great deal to me.”
The shot-stopper has been instrumental in Stoke’s 9th place finish in the Premier League, above former champions Chelsea, a club that Butland rejected before joining Stoke, claiming he didn’t want to be ‘just another number’ at Stamford Bridge. The youngster has had the last laugh and looks set to repeat memorable performances such as that against Arsenal, as Stoke’s and England’s undisputed #1.
| 2015/16 Stats | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 35 |
| Goals Conceded | 39 |
| Clean Sheets | 12 |
| Saves (League only) | 81 |
| Saves Per Goal (League only) | 2.19 |
| Penalties Saved / Conceded (League only) | 0/3 |
| Distribution accuracy (League only) | 56% |
