A third member of the Southampton squad has been called up by England, goalkeeper Fraser Forster will join James Ward Prowse & Kyle Walker Peters after West Bromwich Albion's Sam Johnstone pulled out of the squad.

At the start of this season I expressed surprise that Fraser Forster was not the number 1 Saints keeper, I felt that in the second half of last season he was the better of the two keepers we had to hand and that his pre season form was better than Alex McCarthy who got the nod for the opening games.

In truth I felt that McCarthy did little in the first quarter of the season that made me change that opinion, but despite some decent performances in the Carabao Cup it would be December before McCarthy would be replaced, initially by Willie Caballero due to an injury to Forster meaning he could not replace McCarthy.

Since then Forster has in the main regained much of the form that he showed in his first four years at St Mary's and although he has made the odd mistake, in the main he has put in some sterling performances that saw Saints put in a decent run that propelled them to 9th at one point.

Now he has been rewarded for his efforts by a recall the the England squad after the withdrawal of West Brom's Sam Johnstone pulled out through illness, himself a replacement for Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal who had to withdraw through injury.

No one is claiming that Forster will be back in the England frame for long, unless there is continued injury to at least two perhaps three keeper's, but at least it is a just reward for the effort he has made ro rebuild his career not just at Southampton but in general.

The real irony though is the man who he is replacing Sam Johnstone has been the favourite to replace Forster himself in the Saints goal at the end of the season, both keepers being out of contract.

Whatever the reason for the call up though, it is good to see Saints have three players in an England squad and that is recognition for the performances this season.

Only Manchester City with 4 players have more in the squad than Saints although Arsenal match us on 3, who would have thought it !

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 11:47 - Mar 24 A well -deserved chance for Fraser...never say never.
1

Southampton Polls