Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Jack Butland is set to miss Euro 2016 amid fears that the England goalkeeper faces up to three months on the sidelines with the ankle injury suffered in Saturday’s 3-2 victory against Germany.
The Stoke City number one underwent scans on Sunday after returning from Berlin with Roy Hodgson’s squad and initial results suggest that he will be out for 12 weeks - therefore ending his club season and forcing him to miss England’s campaign in France.
The 23-year-old, who was making only his fourth senior appearance against the world champions, may require surgery on the affected ankle.
With England number one Joe Hart currently sidelined with a calf injury - the Manchester City keeper is expected to be fit within 2-3 weeks - Southampton’s Fraser Forster and Burnley’s Tom Heaton are likely to share the goalkeeping duties against Holland at Wembley on Tuesday.
Butland had emerged as second-choice behind Hart following a hugely impressive season with Stoke after being promoted to the number one spot following the sale of Asmir Begovic to Chelsea last summer.
Germany vs England player ratingsShow all 22 1 /22Germany vs England player ratings Germany vs England player ratings <b>Germany:</b> Manuel Neuer - 6 out of 10 Strong save from Alli to push the ball away from the advancing attackers. Given little to do in the first half, but called upon to deny Alli with an outstretched foot.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Emre Can - 6 Booked for a cynical foul on Danny Welbeck as he tripped the England forward when nearing the area. Found himself deployed at right-back despite impressing for Liverpool in midfield, and his error allowed Welbeck to dispossess him and led to an England shot at goal.
2015 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Antonio Rüdiger - 5 Struggled to cope with the England attack once his partner in crime has departed, which demonstrates the dependency that the German defence currently has on Mats Hummels.
2014 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Mats Hummels - 6 Should have seen yellow for a high tackle around Welbeck’s neck, but instructed Rüdiger where to position himself. Edged the battle with Kane, but went off at half-time with the yong Jonathan Tah coming on in his place.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Jonas Hector - 6 Crucial block prevented Henderson from having a clear shot on target after Can’s error.
2015 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Sami Khedira - 6 Shocking pass almost allowed Alli to score following good work from Welbeck, but that didn’t stop him from dropping back to pick up the first ball from Neuer every time. Lovely chip allowed Gomez to head home for Germany’s second.
2015 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Toni Kroos - 7 Intelligently spotted Butland in trouble and capitalised with a long-range effort that beat the goalkeeper at his near post. Passing was near-faultless, although one sloppy long-ball gave England the chance to counter.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Thomas Muller - 6 Rather quiet throughout, which may have been due to his deeper role to accommodate Gomez.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Mesut Özil - 5 Took up an advanced role in midfield but couldn’t have the impact he wanted as Dier marshalled him to perfection.
2015 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Marco Reus -5 Kept at bay by an energetic English defence, with his pace not having an effect on matters.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Mario Gomez - 7 Should have been celebrating the opener had the assistant referee not incorrectly flagged for offside, but got his goal after the break when he lost Cahill and powered a header past Forster.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings <b>England:</b> Jack Butland – 5 At fault for the opening goal when he tried to play on despite being injured. Decision cost his team, and would have normally expected to have saved Kroos’ effort. Could do nothing to stop Gomez’s effort, which was incorrectly ruled out for offside. Replaced by Fraser Forster after conceding the goal.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Nathaniel Clyne - 8 Good block prevented Khedira having an early effort on goal. Flourished going forwards after the introduction of Lukas Podolski, and it was his cross that was expertly flicked in by Jamie Vardy to equalise. Performance keeps him ahead of Kyle Walker in the pecking order.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Chris Smalling - 7 Recovered well after making a mistake that nearly allowed Gomez in shortly after half-time. Looked assured on the ball and benefitted from facing Gomez rather than livewire Muller.
2015 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Gary Cahill - 6 Missed the target with a free header from a corner, and was at fault for losing Gomez for the second goal and barely jumping off the ground as the ball floated over his head. Didn’t do a lot to suggest he’ll keep John Stones out of the side for too much longer.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Danny Rose - 7 Cross that led to Gomez’s goal came from his flank, but he didn’t receive as much cover from Welbeck as he would have liked. Coped very well on his international debut.
Getty
Germany vs England player ratings Eric Dier - 8 Important block denied Gomez an effort from the edge of the area that arose from a German counter-attack. His first international goal will be one that remains in the memory bank for the rest of his life.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Jordan Henderson - 6 Dangerous corner caused panic in the area and led to Kane’s goal. Looked disciplined and in control of the midfield trio, choosing when to surge forwards and when to sit back and join Dier.
2014 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Dele Alli - 7 Denied by Neuer’s foot when the chance to equalise offered itself on a plate. Looked composed and of the level required to make the grade at international level. Guilty of blazing a simple chance to put England ahead over the crossbar with the goal gaping at his mercy.
2016 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Adam Lallana - 6 Sliced an effort over the crossbar when the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the box. Looked lively, although he didn’t have a big say on matters.
Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Danny Welbeck - 5 Looked slightly off the pace compared to strike-partner Kane, though given this was his first England appearance in almost a year to the day, he can be forgiven. Replaced by Jamie Vardy with 20 minutes remaining.
2014 Getty Images
Germany vs England player ratings Harry Kane - 8 Starved of clear-cut chances in the first half as England failed to find the final product, but showed his talent with a Cruyff-turn inside the German area and hit the ball from under his feet beyond Neuer’s reach into the side of the goal to drag England back into the contest.
Getty
But his campaign has now been brought to an end as a result of the injury which preceded his failure to keep out Toni Kroos’s opening goal in Berlin at the weekend.
Butland was unable to climb to his feet after conceding the goal and was subsequently stretchered off.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies