Heaton odds-on for England squad place

JACK BUTLAND’S ankle injury has almost certainly opened the door to another goalkeeper to head to Euro 2016 and Tom Heaton is favoured by bookmakers in what looks a straight match bet with Ben Foster.

Roy Hodgson described Butland’s injury as a “devastating blow” for the England squad after the Stoke stopper was due to travel to France to be understudy to Joe Hart.

Butland had been 1-12 to make the final 23-man squad.

Fraser Forster is now set to be promoted to second choice and Hodgson must decide between Burnley goalkeeper Heaton and West Brom’s Foster.

Heaton is 4-9 with Paddy Power to get the nod and he is in the squad for Wednesday’s match against Holland, but Hodgson has a close relationship with Foster and media reports suggested the England manager felt it was better for the Baggies cat to rest up having only recently returned to the fold from a serious injury.

Foster is 7-4 with bet365 and Sky Bet to beat Heaton to the final squad. England’s Under-21 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is next in the market at 10-1.

Fitness permitting, Wayne Rooney’s place in the squad is guaranteed but debate rages on as to whether the skipper deserves to start England’s opening Euro 2016 match against Russia in Marseille on June 11.

Hodgson has launched a fierce defence of his captain since England’s vibrant 3-2 win in Germany without Rooney, but the Manchester United man has been cut to miss out on the starting 11.

Rooney is 13-8 from 7-4 with Hills not to be chosen for the first game, while bet365 are still laying England’s record goalscorer at 4-7 to get the nod against Russia.

James Milner will skipper the Three Lions in the absence of Rooney at Wembley on Wednesday and Betfair rate the Liverpool man 1-5 to make the Euro 2016 squad.