Ruddy replacement revealed

Chris Hughton is preparing a swoop for Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland if Paul Lambert returns to Norwich for number one John Ruddy.

The new Canaries chief knows all about the highly-rated teenager, Butland, having managed him at St Andrew's last season when he forced his way into the Blues' first-team following a loan stint at Cheltenham. The 19-year-old impressed so much that England coach Roy Hodgson drafted him into his Euro 2012 squad as the number three keeper behind Joe Hart and Robert Green, ironically after Ruddy was forced to pull out with a broken finger. Southampton appeared to be the favourites to sign Butland this summer after being linked with a £4million offer to the Championship outfit. But, with reports suggesting former Norwich boss, Lambert, is looking to take Ruddy to Aston Villa as 36-year-old Republic of Ireland veteran Shay Given's long-term replacement, Hughton is now thought to be targeting a swoop for Butland in preparation for the worst-case scenario materialising.