Stoke City manager Mark Hughes tells England boss Gareth Southgate to get in touch over goalkeeper Jack Butland

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Mark Hughes has told Gareth Southgate to get in touch if the England manager has any reservations about starting Jack Butland after his long-term injury.

Joe Hart was preferred to Butland for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia, with Southgate insisting no other goalkeepers had performed to the level required to leapfrog England's established No 1.

Hughes has a different take, and backed Butland to earn a starting role now he has returned to his finest form following recovery from a year-long ankle problem.

Jack Butland has returned to Stoke from international duty where he failed to feature

England boss Gareth Southgate stuck with Joe Hart for the games against Malta and Slovakia

Hughes said: 'I was disappointed for Jack. I thought he had a good opportunity and it was a shame he couldn't show his good form.

'But it's only a matter of time. He will push hard. He's coming off a long term injury and maybe people want a bit longer to convince themselves he's up to a level.

'But if anyone needs reassurance they just need to speak to me. He's already back to performing at least the level he was before his injury, if not better.'

Southgate explained his decision to pick Hart, who has conceded ten goals at West Ham this campaign compared to Butland's two, by saying: 'He has got competition but, with only three games gone this season, I don't think at the moment anyone has played to a level to force us to make a change in that position on merit.'

Mark Hughes feels Butland has every reason to feel disappointed at having missed out

Hughes will be without captain Ryan Shawcross for Saturday evening's visit of Manchester United, with new signing Kevin Wimmer in contention for his Stoke debut.

'The one big injury we have got, unfortunately, is Ryan Shawcross who's pulled up in training and is likely to miss the weekend,' said the Stoke manager. 'We are hoping it won't be any longer than that.

'He's just got an issue with his back. It's not what he's had before in terms of disc injuries. It's a ligament in the lower back. He's damaged that and feels a bit stiff, so we are going to have to wait for that to settle.'