Forster heading back to England

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...ews/fraser-forster-heads-back-england-4022179

Geordie goalkeeper Fraser Forster is heading back to England in a bid to save his international career.

The former Newcastle United player helped Celtic win the Scottish Cup on Sunday, to complete a domestic double, and picked up his fourth winners’ medal in three years with the Glasgow club.

Forster, a Wallsend Boys’ Club graduate, has always said he wanted to return to his native North East.

And has never hidden from the fact he remains an avid fan of Newcastle, who pocketed £2m for the 25-year-old when he agreed a permanent deal with Celtic last summer, despite having never played a first-team game for his boyhood club.

The giant 6ft 7in stopper, originally from Hexham, forced his way into Roy Hodgson’s England set-up last season, but has been left out of the squad for the upcoming games against Brazil and the Republic of Ireland.

And it looks as though he would jump at the chance of a move to the Premier League if the chance arises.

Forster said: “It’s a tough one. Celtic have been fantastic for me and this season couldn’t have gone much better, both personally and as a team.

“But it’s disappointing not to be in this England squad.

“I’ve got to be looking towards the World Cup next year and trying to be on that plane. So I’ll just have to do whatever is necessary to make that squad.

“I’ve got quite a while left on my contract here, and if we can get through the Champions League qualifiers – which will be tough – to get in the group stage again would be something special. We’ll just have to wait and see.

“I didn’t get an explanation as to why I was left out this time although I haven’t spoken to anyone at England. It’s just one of those things.

“We haven’t got that long off in the summer anyway, so you just have to take the positives out of it. I’ll get a good rest and come back next season raring to go. My plan is to go away and get some sunshine and relax. It’s been a very long season.

“Was it a body-blow not to be in the squad? Well, yes. That’s where you want to be.

“Having had a taste of being in an England squad before and after Christmas, that’s what you’re aiming for. Once you’ve been in, you want to be in every time.

“It’s a World Cup year and World Cups in Brazil don’t come around very often. That would be something special.

“I’ll just have to do whatever I can to force my way on to that plane.”

Forster moved away from Newcastle because he wanted to play first-team football.

He has excelled up north, not only on the domestic scene, but also in the Champions League.

This is why a number of clubs, including Everton, have scouted the keeper in recent months.

Forster signed for Newcastle in 2006, but never thought he would break through to the first team, which is why he ended up in Scotland.

He admitted: “It’s been brilliant at Celtic. It’s been a very long season but we’ve done well on all fronts. We wrapped the league up early doors and had this final to look forward to, so it’s nice to get the job done.

“The exposure from the Champions League this season helped a lot of us. That’s where you’ve got to test yourself against the best players in the world.

“We’ll want to do well next year, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Forster will never give up on his dream of representing the Toon, no matter where his career takes him.

He said: “I’m a Newcastle fan and I’ve got unfinished business there. It was a wrench to leave because it’s my hometown club. But it wasn’t meant to be.”

 

Such a pity that timing meant he and Krul were competing. Great to have had two brilliant young keepers, but we'd never have kept them both happy. We could do with him now that Timmy is injured.

Should have held on to him and continued to loan him to Celtic. £2m was a steal for such a young keeper with plenty of potential.

 

I can see him going for at least £5m

 

Quality keeper. Certainly good enough to be in the England mix and I imagine him and Hooper will both head south in search of catching the eye.

 

I was under the impression that our backroom staff really didn't rate him. Found him a bit wooden, I think, and not a great jumper for a big lad. Immobile was a word I heard mentioned. Let's not forget he's playing in Scotland, though. So if he gets a move - and it'll probably be to someone like Palace - we should reserve judgement.

Then if he's still good, it's something else we can hammer Pardew about.

 

you'll get Warm Pouch and Jimmy on to you for that one!

 

They rated him and said so many times to be fair. They just couldn't keep him happy as a number 2. Forster knew with Krul in his path there was no point in staying. Can't keep an unhappy player.

You'll hammer Pards regardless, its your right as a fickle Newcastle fan I believe

 

I'm not talking about media press releases, FFS!!

From the Journal - Andy Woodman today said "I can't believe we got £2m for the big fella, he's feckin useless".

I'm talking about just thing's I've heard. Perhaps unsubstantiated, but I'm just makin' conversation.

Yes, how fickle of me to expect slightly better than last season. Perhaps this year we can go out of a cup to Premier League opposition and not be threatened with relegation after game 36.

 

He's have been out of contract by now and we would have got nowt.

 

Chomp! Sorry but if you are going to derail every thread into a Pardew slanging session and try to blame him for all of Newcastle's/the worlds ills, I'll feel the need to dangle the bait.

 

slight hint of sensationalism there from the Chron.
Fraser, if you could be first choice at any club in the premier league would you go?
Yes.
Read all about it, Fraser set to leave Celtic for premier league.
I recall him being well praised by the back room staff at reserve/junior level but being very unconvincing when given the chance within the first team (admittedly only in friendlies). For me Krul's attitude around the first team was better. Forster seemed a bit like a rabbit in the headlights. Still have him over Elliott.

 

He'll probably come if/when Krul leaves this summer.

 

Actually.. it's not beyond the realms for FF to have been given word that TK may be moving on (Arsenal anyone?) so his 'people' told him to indicate a willingness to return.
I would hope that big Mike popped a 'first option' clause into the contract of sale.

 

Think it could be Milan, I'd hope Ashley had the sense to do that.

 

As nedders said he wasn't/isn't rated by the club. He's not a great keeper, definitely no better than Elliot and in the eyes of the club some way behind Krul and with less potential than Alnwick, who the club have HUGE expectations of.

That said he had improved, he wasn't exceptional for his level as a young lad (know people who played with him) and was poor for the reserves (watched him a lot). He's done very well for himself but the England call up is more an example of poor depth competition and a fair bit of politics.

 

To be fair he's now had a couple of seasons worth of playing regularly, so will have made big strides. OK, so it's been in Scotland, but all those games will have helped develop him far quicker than the odd youth / reserve game when he was here. People improve the more they play, so you can't always think of them as they were.

 

He's a good keeper, far better than Elliott on all known evidence. As you say game time brings keepers on massively. Watched him a fair bit this season and last, he has won them plenty of games. Still has stuff to learn of course. The problem he had here is he was compared to Krul who, distribution aside, is outstanding for his age. Forster also looked good when my mates saw him for the reserves. Still very raw at the time, much like Alnwick, but very very young in keeping terms.

The club liked him but there was nothing complicated about him leaving. He wanted to leave in search of first team football, had a contract running down, wanted stability and Newcastle could get 2m for his services. Job done.