England No.1 says Albion keeper is a genuine challenger
JOE Hart has welcomed Ben Foster back into the England fold – and admits the Baggies goalkeeper is a genuine challenger for the No.1 spot.Foster, who has made himself available for his country after an absence of almost two years, took to the training pitch at St George’s Park for the first time yesterday.
And Manchester City stopper Hart recognises he has a fight on his hands to hold onto the gloves for Roy Hodgson’s men as they prepare for World Cup qualifiers against San Marino on Friday and Montenegro four days later.
“It’s great to see Ben, he’s a consistent performer and I’ve worked with him in training and against him before,” he said.
“It’s good to have players like that and we have some top quality keepers now with Jack [Butland], Fraser [Forster] and John Ruddy, who is injured.
“Wherever you look there is good talent. I feel pushed every time I come away with England, and that was my job before, to really push hard.
“We all train like we play, which is very hard, and I don’t think anyone would expect any different.
“I always try my hardest to play well.
"That’s the way all top players think, as long as you take care of yourself, that’s the best you can do.
“We all work together and, as a trio, I think any one of them can do well for the team.
“I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do and I’ll keep working hard and training hard, and it doesn’t matter if there are no keepers or a 1,000 keepers.”