• Premier League

Foster admits defeat in Manchester United career

ESPN Soccernet staff
May 5, 2010
Ben Foster admits he needs to be playing football © Getty Images
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Ben Foster has confirmed that he expects to leave Manchester United this summer as he attempts to revive his career.

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed he plans to allow one or two senior players to leave Old Trafford this summer, and Foster, 27, appears to be among the candidates.

The goalkeeper had been expected to challenge Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak for a place in the starting line-up but, following some disappointing early season form, he admits he now needs to find regular football elsewhere.

"You never want to leave Manchester United," he told the Manchester Evening News. "If you leave this club you are only ever going to go down, but I want to be playing football.

"I am not interested in just hanging around and I would go if the club wanted to sell me. If they are happy to accept a bid then you have to read between the lines and realise you are not really needed and move on. It would not be the end of the world for me."

Many tipped Foster to establish himself as first-choice in the England squad ahead of this summer's World Cup, but he accepts there is little prospect of a call-up given his recent lack of match action.

"I don't think there is any chance of South Africa now," he said. "If he were to pick me it would be very unfair on some of the other goalkeepers.

"I have not played a first-team game for a good few months and some of the English lads out there like Joe Hart and Robert Green have been doing fantastic."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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