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Forster Set For Recall As McCarthy Tests Positive For Covid 19
Sunday, 3rd Jan 2021 20:28

Saints injury problems have just got worse as it has been revealed that Alex McCarthy has tested positive for Covid 19 and will miss the game at St Mary's against Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Saints have confirmed that goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will miss the visit of Liverpool on Monday evening as well as the FA Cup game against Shrewsbury, if indeed that goes ahead with Shrewsbury themselves calling off their game this weekend after they had players test positive for the virus.

McCarthy, who played in Southampton’s goalless draw with West Ham United on Dec. 29, is now self-isolating.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said:

“After the last round of tests, we have one positive case now with Alex McCarthy, so he’s out for the game on Monday and maybe also the Shrewsbury game as he has to self-isolate for a period,”

This will mean that Fraser Forster will return to the Saints goal after making only one appearance for the club since a defeat to Spurs at Wembley on Boxing Day 2017, a period of just over 3 years.

His one and only game since that defeat also came in London at West Ham in May 2019 when Ralph Hasenhuttl put him into the side to have a look at him.

Although not having a great game that day he didn't have a bad one either, but he didn't do enough to convince Ralph he would be a better option than either Angus Gunn or Alex McCarthy and he was shipped off to Celtic on loan last season where he was a great success and seemed to regain his form and confidence.

But with the Scottish season being ended early in March last year, Forster hasn't played a competitive game in 10 months and this will be a baptism of fire for his return.

But although he has come under fire from Saints fans, the fact is for several seasons he was a solid keeper for Saints and can still do a job as he showed at Celtic.

Photo: Action Images



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WestSussexSaint added 20:47 - Jan 3
Well with Liverpool’s attack FF will certainly get a chance to show what he is made of.

I think the big difference this time to that one off appearance at West Ham is that back then his confidence was shot to bits and now he appears to have his confidence back after a strong season at Celtic.

I don’t think this changes anything with respect to McCarthy who is certainly still number 1 but a solid back up in FF will be to the benefit of the squad. Get well soon Alex.
3

ElijahK added 21:06 - Jan 3
I mean McCarthy has been insane recently so why do many people wanted Forster to start anyway always baffled me!

I mean there’s a reason why he’s one of the top selected FPL goalkeepers! The only thing I can complain about is his distribution! Forster was never actually that good really as I think most people forget that he had Fonte and Van Dijk in defence (which has probably been our best defence we’ve had in a very long time!) and obviously wasn’t going to have as much to save! And once they moved on he was just trash! I mean people are going on about him at Celtic but you can’t compare the premier league to the Scottish top devision seeing that we could probably win it!

Look in the end we can certainly hope that he’ll be decent and that he can actually go for McCarthy’s spot, but seeing that McCarthy will only miss the FA cup game and this one, if Forster is just as bad as we last saw then we’ve only got this game to worry about!
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wibbersda added 09:32 - Jan 4
Hope he pulls off saves like the League Cup game at Anfield.
1

underweststand added 15:49 - Jan 4
The club is paying this man - a lot of money - merely to train every week.
Now is the time to see if he is a worthwhile investment as a viable alternative to McCarthy.
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