Ben Foster: My Foster's a Large One, but It's Always Second Best

With England firmly in the driving seat for their qualification to next year's World Cup, many are beginning to speculate which players will  and will not be chosen to represent their country and aim to remove from our memory the embarrassment of the failure to make the European finals of last year.

Many prominent players, such as Gerrard, Rooney, and Ferdinand are of course certainties for places, but more so than most, the position of goalkeeper is one that has been highly discussed and speculated.

David James has somewhat monopolised the position at times, occasionally being replaced by Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland. Inevitably, he finds himself as first choice goalie, despite various hiccups along the way.  

Yet many are championing a new promising talent in the form of Manchester United second choice keeper, Ben Foster. The clue, however, is in the title. Here is a player hailed as being capable of pushing to the forefront of the English team, but ultimately one who is being held back by a manager unwilling to give him enough defining moments that would warrant him a stake to the claim of English No. 1.

Foster found himself at United in 2005, but with only one appearance to his name was shipped off to Watford on loan for two seasons. A greater amount of exposure followed and two years later he did then return to Manchester United. This was amid an increased spotlight and improved potential.

Of course those who managed to witness his sensational performance in the Carling Cup final will have seen his lack of premier league action as a terrible injustice waiting to be resolved.  

His dominant display in the face of goal against Tottenham was revolutionary in highlighting his superb credentials, and gave food for thought for both Alex Ferguson and also England manager Fabio Capello in their future team choices.

Edwin Van Der Sar, currently Foster’s main competition for the United shirt ,is coming to the end of his career, but still heads the team's starting line up match after match. From an optimistic mindset, Foster's aspirations are obviously increased at the knowledge that the Dutchman must surely be reaching a climax to his career, which could hand Foster a greater amount of match starts.

However, this possible promotion for Foster, at the moment, is just that—a possibility, rather than an inevitability.

Many have been quick to persuade Foster into staying at United, citing the benefits that the "if" becoming a certainty would give. An increase in his English first team prospects would give Foster a mouth wateringly relishing reason to stay.

Alternatively, however, one must wonder what would happen if this "if" becomes a risk too much? What would happen if the patience that Foster has portrayed so far results in career aspirations being placed permanently on hold, if events don’t go his way?

Foster himself has concluded currently that he will fight for a place as first choice keeper at his club, before focusing greater attention on the prospect of representing his country on a global stage.

Others, though, have been quick to warn Foster of the obvious shortcomings that a waiting battle could force upon him.

Former English keeper Peter Shilton sounded a stark warning to Foster, remarking that the short-term prospects are not necessarily fantastic, and aspirations to represent his country in the future would dramatically suffer as a result.

After all, who would expect an English team manager to select a player whose first team action consists of the occasional cup appearance? Chris Kirkland suffered a similar fate whilst at Liverpool before wisely choosing to emigrate away from the Kop and thus increase his national prospects.

Ben Foster will ultimately decide in which direction his career will eventually take.

Personally, I worry that if first team action was to become more elusive at United, then a switch to another premier league team may come excruciatingly too late. Would this sort of future leave Foster contemplating in hindsight why he chose to stay at a club where the manager gave little to credit him? Or stay at a club that fair enough will win him trophies, but essentially never allowed him to showcase his enhanced talents.

There is a national hero in the making in the form of Leamington Spa-born Foster, but one that will become nothing more than a rumour of promise if change fails to take place.