Stoke stopper Butland not for sale, says manager Hughes

REUTERS - Stoke City's in-form goalkeeper Jack Butland will not be leaving the Britannia Stadium anytime soon and is undervalued at 20 million pounds ($30.2 million), manager Mark Hughes has said. The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to Liverpool and Everton after keeping five clean sheets in 15 appearances for the club in all competitions this season following the departure of Asmir Begovic to Chelsea during the close-season. "Jack's going nowhere. People are aware of him - and they have been for a long time," Hughes was quoted as saying by British media. "Do I think that's a fair value? No. We wouldn't place a value on him," Hughes said, when asked about the 20 million pound valuation. Butland, who begun his career with Birmingham City, was a surprise inclusion in England's squad for Euro 2012, although he did not make an appearance in the tournament. Hughes praised the goalkeeper's rise but warned he should be focused on cementing his place in Stoke's starting eleven. "Jack forced his way into the England squad when he was 19 He's had a great career progression, every step he's taken he's dealt with. Now it's about consolidating himself in a very good Premier League team. That's the challenge for him," Hughes said. The Potters, who are 12th in the Premier League table, will rely on Butland to keep out a formidable Manchester City attack when they host the league leaders on Saturday. ($1 = 0.6624 pounds) (Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru. Editing by Patrick Johnston)