Player Focus: Forster's Deserved Chance to Stake England Claim Back in Scotland
It's difficult to imagine a man who stands 6'7" could be overlooked by anyone, but until recently Fraser Forster found himself in that very position with the national team. Despite questions about Joe Hart's consistency, it wasn't until last November that Forster was rewarded with his first cap.
Forster signed his first professional contract with Newcastle in 2005 at the age of 17. Although he was on their books for the next six seasons, he never made an appearance with the senior team - spending much of his time away from Tyneside on loan. After short spells at Stockport County and Bristol Rovers, Forster began to draw accolades at Norwich.
Then manager, Paul Lambert, had initially signed Forster on just a one month loan, but had it extended twice, taking the deal up until the end of the 2009/10 season. Forster played a key role in Norwich's promotion to the Championship as he kept 18 clean sheets in his 38 league appearances and thus won the Macron Golden Gloves Award. He was also named Norwich's Players' Player of the Year. Lambert tried and failed to hold onto Forster as Newcastle were reluctant to let him go anywhere on a permanent basis, obviously seeing the potential in him.
Forster headed a little further north for his first of two loan spells at Celtic before Neil Lennon managed to sign him on a permanent basis at the start of the 2012/13 season - and just in time for Celtic's Champions League run. When he first brought Forster to Celtic Park, Lennon said "[Forster's] age is the only thing going against him because otherwise he's all the qualities you look for". Away from the pressure of the English media, Forster was able to develop his craft amidst the fierce atmosphere of Celtic Park, both domestically and in European competition.
While on loan he made 91 appearances and kept an impressive 50 clean sheets. Lennon saw Forster as an invaluable member of the squad and pushed to finally sign him away from his boyhood club. The English media and Hodgson largely continued to overlook Forster but after Celtic's 2-1 victory over Barcelona, the Spanish media were quick to label him La Gran Muralla <The Great Wall>. He faced 25 shots that evening, making 7 saves, with only Lionel Messi's effort managing to get past him.
Forster continued to impress the following season both in the Champions League and in the SPL as he set a club record 11 consecutive league clean sheets - and then set a Scottish League record as he went 1155 minutes without conceding a goal in the 2013/14 season, earning him a spot in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year. Roy Hodgson had finally seen enough of Forster to bring him into the squad - but never seemed confident to give him a start with both Joe Hart and even Ben Foster preferred.
Many seemed still quick to dismiss or even overlook Forster's domestic achievements as a real threat to Joe Hart's position as number one for the national team as he'd not yet proven himself in one of Europe's top leagues. With concern of complacency in Hart both for club and country, Forster seemed like the perfect fit to challenge for Hart's spot or simply improve Hart's own performances.
As Lennon had anticipated it would be "impossible to keep [him]" with the way he was playing, Forster made the move to Southampton this summer, adapting seamlessly to the Premier League. Saints currently have the best defence in the Premier League, conceding just 5 goals in their opening 11 fixtures. While Forster has kept a clean sheet in 7 of those games at a so-called 'lesser' club, Hart has managed to keep just 3 Premier League clean sheets this season. Playing for the current champions will always make Hart the easier choice, but as it stands Forster's Southampton sit second in the league just behind Chelsea having conceded 7 fewer goals than Hart's Manchester City.
In the past 3 seasons, Joe Hart has made 10 errors that have led directly to a goal in the Premier League - at least 2 more than any other player. Questions about Hart's consistency have beleaguered him in recent seasons and he was even given a timeout by City boss Manuel Pellegrini last season as Costel Pantilimon was given a run of matches. Considered indispensable by Lennon, Forster made just a single error in his 14 Champions League appearances for Celtic and is yet to make one in the Premier League this season. Forster also currently boasts the best save success rate in the league at 75% - just edging Joe Hart at 74.2%.
Although Forster (and Ben Foster) acknowledge that Joe Hart is unquestionably Hodgson's number one, Forster will be given his chance tonight at Celtic Park to rise head and shoulders above the rest. Hodgson has said that given the chance he knows that Forster "won't let [England] down". Forster himself exclaimed this week that "it would be a dream come true to play". He will relish the occasion and atmosphere of his former stomping ground just as he did against Barcelona, and will look to prove any remaining doubters wrong. Both age and playing in Scotland seemingly worked against Forster until now, but it's back at Celtic Park where he will deservedly get his chance to make a mark with England.
As Fraser Forster continues to impress under the glaring lights of the Premier League, Hodgson could find himself in a similar position to Jose Mourinho this season: delighted at having to select between top goalkeepers. After previously overlooking Forster, Hodgson now has a suitable backup for Joe Hart to take England forward - a goalkeeper that could be the one to lead England out in France if he continues to develop in the way he has since first coming onto England's radar at Celtic Park.
Do you think Fraser Forster should be given more of a chance to take Joe Hart's England number 1 spot? Let us know in the comments below
