I want Joe Hart's number one spot, says Jack Butland

Jack Butland says he wants to be England's first-choice goalkeeper - and he won't wait for Joe Hart to retire in order for it to happen.

In an interview with Sky Sports, the Stoke shot-stopper said that he has huge respect for Manchester City goalkeeper Hart, a former team-mate of his from their days together at Birmingham a few years back.

Yet Butland is still determined to unseat his former idol.

"My ambition is to be England No 1 and I want to do that before Joe retires," said the 22-year-old Butland. "I don't want to be waiting that long and I hope it's not the case.

"I haven't spoken to Roy about things like that because its not time to do it. It wouldn't be respectful to Joe, who doesn't deserve to give the time up.

Butland added that he is a big fan of Hart, despite his fighting talk."But I've got to make sure my performances stay high for when the time comes."

"Joe is someone I have a massive amount of respect for. He came to Birmingham when I was 15-16, on loan for year, and he was incredible," Butland said.

"Since then he's been my role model and someone I try to emulate. But things have changed a bit since then so I'd like to keep performing and try and put pressure on him in that squad for sure.

"I'm very much behind him in terms of experience so I'm not going to bite off more than I can chew."