Foster aiming for England return

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The Albion keeper is recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury and is on course to make his comeback in October.

Foster suffered the injury in March – his third serious knee injury but first on his left knee – and missed England’s 3-2 win in Slovenia on Sunday.

The Three Lions top Group E and are on course to qualify for France next year following six wins from six games.

Eight-cap Foster was regular deputy to Joe Hart before his injury but knows with Tom Heaton, Rob Green and John Ruddy all holding England ambitions, and the emergence of Jack Butland at Stoke, his return is not guaranteed.

“I’ve got two or three big carrots in front of me I need to aim for,” he said.

“Roy (Hodgson) gave me a call and told me how sorry he was and how unlucky I was. Things like that happen, you have to roll with it and suck it up.

“I don’t expect any favours, definitely not, it’s the way it is. You have to pick the players on form. If you’re not playing or not performing I don’t see why you should expect to be in the team.

“It’s completely changed, it’s brilliant. We have waited so long to say we have got a good bit of talent playing in the Premier League week in, week out.

“I was at United with Tom Heaton who is an incredible keeper and he just needed the chance to show what he could do.

“We’ve always had a settled goalkeeping unit – me, Fraser (Forster) and Joe – we all push each other and want the same outcome. It’s all geared up the match day and getting Joe ready for the game but it’s all change at the moment.”

Foster has also been in contact with Southampton’s Forster with the 27-year-old also sidelined with a serious knee injury, including a damaged patellar tendon.

“I’ve been keeping up with Fraser as well, his was a big old injury and I’m gutted for him because he was flying considering it was his first season in the Premier League,” said the 32-year-old.

“He did it a week after me and that’s two England goalies taken out of contention but that’s how it happens and the door opens for others.”

Foster will cycle from London to Paris for Cure Leukaemia this week as he steps up his recovery and is eager to start the charity ride which starts on Thursday.

He added: “I’ve got the bike ride and that’s pushing me hard and when that’s out the way I’ll be two or three months away from full fitness again and training day in, day out.”