Ferguson has been praising Foster yet again, this time on the back of a dropped gonad against the Malaysian XI. Ferguson told the Guardian, "This was Ben's first game for four months. He dislocated a finger at the end of last season and we had to operate. I have said it before and I will say it again, there is no question in my mind that he will be England's goalkeeper. There is nobody better. I am absolutely convinced of that.
"But he has two challenges. One is to take the position of Edwin van der Sar, who as everybody accepts, is one of the great goalkeepers of all time [and] we have to hope and pray that he stays free of injury and consistency will be everything for the boy."
Foster himself added, "It is a big 12 months for me," Foster said today. "I have just got to kick on and start playing a few matches. Of course the World Cup is a big motivation for me. You don't get many chances to play in a World Cup and I feel that provided I can play some games for Manchester United, I have a realistic chance of going."