Forster fully focused on Southampton

Matt Stead

Fit-again Fraser Forster wants to focus his attention on Southampton despite constant contact with England boss Roy Hodgson during his rehabilitation.

The 27-year-old missed 10 months with a serious knee injury but returned last month against Watford and has yet to concede in his four games back.

He superbly kept Arsenal at bay in Tuesday night’s goalless draw, saving well from the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud.

It was proof that the former Celtic stopper can still harbour ambitions of making the England squad for Euro 2016 despite the form of Joe Hart of Manchester City and Stoke’s Jack Butland.

And Forster said he had spoken to Hodgson during his rehabilitation but was not looking too far ahead at the moment.

“I spoke to him a few times to be fair,” Forster said when asked if he’d heard from Hodgson.

“He was always checking up on me and seeing how I was getting on, he was always there for me if I needed to speak to him.

“For me it is just about playing well for Southampton and enjoy playing football, I’m just delighted to be back out on the pitch and everything else is a bonus.

“Obviously the Euros is there but for me it is just a case of playing week in, week out for Southampton and playing well for them and then see what happens.

“There are four of us now with (Ben) Foster back from injury now as well so it is one of them where I haven’t even thought about it, I’m just glad to be back playing and working as hard as I can.”

While remaining modest about his own performance, Forster admitted such nights make his long rehab worthwhile having not played since being forced off against Burnley last March.

When asked if these were the kinds of games he dreamt of during his comeback, he said: “Yes definitely.

“Credit to all the medical staff and Dave Watson, the keeper coach. They have all worked so hard and put in so many hours over the last 10 months and I’m delighted to contribute.

“It’s such a fantastic team performance and it is such a hard place to come and you know you are going to be worked, delighted to come away with a point.

“It is obviously nice to come out and play well but it is a fantastic team performance and for me, I’m just delighted to be back playing, I’ve been out for so long and delighted to be back doing the thing I love.

“The lads have really helped me and the previous few games I’ve been limited to what I have had to do so it was nice to be able to contribute and help the lads.

“But it was another strong team performance and a great point and great momentum, it is just important to take that into the game on Saturday (against West Ham).”