Source: Telegraph
Ben Foster has 'strength of character' to bounce back says Edwin van der Sar
Foster, 26, has been recalled to Fabio Capello’s squad for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Belarus at Wembley because Robert Green has to serve a one-match suspension following his red card against Ukraine on Saturday.
The United goalkeeper had initially been ruled out of the squad with a chest injury, but his omission coincided with an alarming loss of form at Old Trafford during which he conceded 10 goals in as many games.
High-profile errors against Manchester City and Sunderland cast doubt over Foster’s England prospects and Van der Sar’s return from a two-month thumb injury lay-off in the reserves last week has increased the likelihood that the Dutchman will replace Foster against Bolton on Saturday.
But Van der Sar, 38, is backing Foster to bounce back and become a better goalkeeper as a result of his form slump.
Van der Sar said: “Ben certainly has the strength of character to overcome what he has been through and how he deals with it will shape the player he will be.
“He is a very strong guy. I have sympathy for him, but I have no worries about him.
“Nobody has a clear path in their career. You go up and down and you just have to make sure that the downs are not as deep as the ones you go up.
“I had similar things when I was young. That is what makes you the man and the player you become as a goalkeeper.”
Despite the public show of support for his young rival, Van der Sar admits he is determined to oust Foster from the starting line-up at United.
He said: “I want my place back. Playing in the reserves last Tuesday was an ideal moment for me to get a game under my belt before the Premier League begins again after the international break. I needed a game.”
