Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Foster considers Old Trafford exit
en Foster has endured a painful season - shattered confidence; ambitions of being United's number one in tatters; dreams of the World Cup with England ruined. He had the world in his hands and the 27-year-old goalkeeper allowed it to slip through his fingers. He should have been awaiting Fabio Capello's 23-man squad announcement at the end of the month with confident anticipation. He could have been Sir Alex Ferguson's first-choice keeper all season. But probably his final act of his campaign was to keep goal for United's reserves on Bank Holiday Monday in front of just over 2000 fans at Old Trafford in the Premier League Reserves Play-Off final. It is a career nosedive of alarming proportions, but you won't find Foster having sleepless nights about the dramatic collapse of his season. "It hasn't been great for me," he told MEN Sport. "The season started off well but since I came out of the team it has just been low-lights really. I have had nothing to cheer about. "I am not naïve enough to think I did well when I got my chance. I know I didn't do great. "Tomasz (Kuszczak) came in and did fantastic and then Edwin (Van der Sar) was back. "If I had done well then there would have been a chance of staying in. It wasn't nailed on that Edwin would get back straight away. But that is the way football goes it just didn't work out for me. "I don't lie awake at night and kick myself about what could have been." After an annus horriblis that has seen him slump to being United's number three in the battle of the gloves Foster now believes a loan move next term can revive his career. "I will take stock in the summer and see what happens," he added. "If things don't work out for me at United I will go somewhere else and, hopefully, I will play first-team football and be happy and that is the most important thing for me. "I haven't got a clue what will happen in the summer. There has been speculation in the press but maybe that is just paper talk." Birmingham have been linked with a loan bid or permanent transfer. "I think with Edwin signing a new contract he is going to be playing next season," said Foster. "That is without a doubt. That is nailed on. "Maybe I could go on loan. You see what it has done for City's Joe Hart this season. He has showed everyone what he can do at Birmingham. Now he is going to the World Cup. "To know that you are virtually going to be playing every match is a nice feeling. I had it at Watford for two years and it was a great feeling to be needed and wanted. "If I can get a loan move for a season it could do me the world of good. It is a game of confidence especially at Man United. That is why Edwin is doing so well. He is so experienced. United need that at the back so a year out from here to play some football would be great. "You never want to leave Man United. If you leave this club you are only ever going to go down. But I want to be playing football. I am not interested in just hanging about. "I would go if the club wanted to sell me. If they are happy to accept a bid then you have to read between the lines and realise you are not really needed and move on. It would not be the end of the world for me. "As long as I am playing football and I am happy and my family are happy that is all that matters to me." Foster played 10 matches at the start of the season when Van der Sar was recovering from finger surgery after suffering a break in pre-season. But his opportunity to force the veteran Dutchman into considering retirement rather than another 12-month deal failed with his spell damaged by high profile errors. His 39-year-old rival was brought back when he was fit. Foster understands Van der Sar is vital to the Reds and has no complaints that the evergreen number one is Ferguson's pick. "Edwin is just Edwin Van der Sar isn't he? He is the epitome of a great footballer and is exactly what United are looking for in a goalkeeper. "That is fair play to him. He is in fantastic shape. He is like a 25-year-old in training. He is a complete pro and there is nobody who could do what he does for United any better than he does. "I watched him on a Saturday and watch how cool he is with the ball at his feet and everything about him is what you aspire to be." Back in the autumn South Africa beckoned for the Leamington Spa born keeper as he was the man in possession for England. West Ham's Robert Green had been sent off against the Ukraine post-qualification. David James was challenging and Hart was in the early stages of rewriting his CV at St Andrews. Foster played back-to-back matches against Belarus at Wembley in a World Cup qualifier and then in the friendly against Brazil in Qatar. But his United nightmare had kicked in by the Brazil defeat and he disappeared from the scene. He isn't expecting an 11th hour miracle recall to the squad. "I felt anytime I played for England I did fairly well and the boss gave me a couple of chances," he said. "He gave me those two games on the bounce but ever since coming back from playing against Brazil I seem to have been frozen out. "I don't think there is any chance of South Africa now. If he were to pick me it would be very unfair on some of the other goalkeepers. I haven't played a first team game for a good few months and even then it was just one game against West Ham and I wasn't playing for a couple of months before that. "Some of the English lads out there like Joe Hart and Rob Green have been doing fantastic and it is fair play to them. "If I am not involved with England then I will just get on with it and have a break and then come back and see what is what." Foster's inclusion in United's reserves might look like he's having his nose rubbed in it, but he insisted he volunteered. "I am just happy to play," he said after being the hero in Ole Solskjaer's reserves penalty shoot-out success in the national final. "I am not one of those players who is too proud to say I am not playing in the reserves," he said. "I said to Ole a few months ago that any game he wanted me to play in I was more than happy to play in. A game is a game to me."
