Myhill braced for Foster return

25 November 2013 07:31

Boaz Myhill has emphasised he is under no illusions about the battle he will face for first-team football when his fellow West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster returns to fitness.

Myhill has played in Albion's last nine Barclays Premier League games after Foster, who has been the club's established number one, sustained a stress fracture of a bone in his right foot in a 0-0 draw at Everton on August 24.

Foster was initially ruled out for 12 weeks, and while he has returned to light training, Baggies boss Steve Clarke on Friday refused to give a timescale in terms of when the England international might be available for first-team selection again.

When that time does come, Myhill, although happy with the form he has been showing, knows there is every chance he might be dropped, with Foster going straight back into the side.

Speaking ahead of West Brom's Monday night league clash at home against midlands rivals Aston Villa - the club at which the 31-year-old began his career - Myhill said: "Ben has proved himself to be a top keeper all the time he's been here and I have no illusions - I'll be up against it.

"Your best is always good enough as a player, and if the manager chooses Ben that's his decision. I just want to do as well as I can while he's not fit."

Asked if he felt capable of keeping a fit Foster out, Wales international Myhill said: "You'd have to ask the manager that, I don't pick the team.

"I'd like to play in the team, I'm trying my best at the minute and I think everybody's happy with the way I'm playing.

"The manager is paid to pick the team. He's doing a good job of it and we'll just keep fighting to get in the team all over the pitch."

Clarke has given little away on the matter, describing Myhill as a "joint number one".

Clarke said: "It's been great for me, great for the club and great for Boaz because he's waited a long time to get in the team.

"The job of number two goalkeeper at any club is a difficult one but he's proved this season that he's more than a number two, he's a joint number one - when he's had to come in and do the job for us he's been great.

"To lose Ben Foster when we lost him at the start of the season could have been very difficult for the club and for the team going forward.

"But we knew we had another international goalkeeper who could come in and do the job and the way the team has defended tells you the back four are comfortable with Boaz and he is comfortable with them.

"It's been an almost seamless transition."

Source: PA