Butt will find it hard to regain his place. I mean, he isn’t neither the most technical gifted of the lot nor the strongest one.
Yet, in that specific role, just behind Keane, you don’t need to be the toughest defensive midfielder, or possess a Kleberson’s like technique and passing ability. It’s a “modest” role whose aim is basically to win back the ball. A massive role that a 32 year old Keano is finding it hard to cover alone
I believe that the reason that P Neville has made his that role is that, he was the only one capable to perfectly understand the needs of that role and therefore fulfill its aims.
Let us be honest with ourselves, Phil is neither the toughest of the lot nor the most gifted, and yet, by keeping things simple, he is currently (and rightly so) the first teamer in a role that is so much contested.
If Butt wants to regain his place, he needs to change his attitude, play on his strengths and twart forever those 30 yard passing and those shots out of the box, that only contribute to make him look ridiculous. Once, Butt changes his attitude (as he did during the WC) it would be very difficult for anyone, to stop him from winning back his role next to Keano.