{"id":577767,"date":"2021-01-07T05:38:54","date_gmt":"2021-01-07T10:38:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=577767"},"modified":"2021-03-17T19:04:59","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T23:04:59","slug":"fraser-forster-always-keen-to-come-back-play-southampton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/01\/07\/fraser-forster-always-keen-to-come-back-play-southampton\/","title":{"rendered":"Fraser Forster Delighted With Southampton First Team Return"},"content":{"rendered":"

Southampton<\/a> goalkeeper Fraser Forster<\/a> revealed he is thrilled with his first-team return, stating: \u201cI\u2019ve always been keen to come back and play here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Forster returned to the club\u2019s starting team for the first time in 612 days on Monday night, following Alex McCarthy<\/a>\u2019s positive Covid-19 test<\/a>, and kept a clean sheet as his side defeated Liverpool<\/a> 1-0.<\/p>\n

Southampton Goalkeeper Fraser Forster Pleased with First Team Return<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Forster: \u201cIt\u2019s Been a Tough Few Years\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Discussing losing the number one spot in the Daily Echo<\/a>, Forster said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a strange few years, it\u2019s been a tough few years.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Obviously it\u2019s a club I love a lot. I had some fantastic times here in the past and I\u2019ve always been keen to come back and try and play here. That\u2019s all I wanted to do in the summer.<\/p>\n

“But obviously the team has been doing well and Al\u2019s been doing well so it\u2019s just important I can help the team and the club in any way I can.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never know what\u2019s going to happen \u2013 injuries happen and with COVID people can be ruled out, so you\u2019ve just got to be ready for when you do play.”<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old also commented on adapting to Ralph Hasenhuttl\u2019s style of play, continuing: \u201cHe obviously wants the goalkeepers to play a bit higher and sweep up behind the back four.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s stuff I\u2019ve worked on and I always want to keep improving, keep learning and the manager has been fantastic with me.<\/p>\n

“It was just one of those where you\u2019ve got to wait your time for any opportunities and that\u2019s the main thing. It was nice to get back out there and play at St Mary\u2019s again and then obviously nice to keep the clean sheet.”<\/p>\n

Forster: Southampton First Choice to Regular Bench Warmer<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Arriving at St Mary\u2019s from Celtic<\/a> in 2014, Forster quickly established himself as a Southampton regular and was the club\u2019s established number one keeper during his first three seasons.<\/p>\n

However, following a 5-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> in December 2017, the 32-year old found himself pushed out of the first team by McCarthy and, later, Angus Gunn<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After making just one appearance during the 2018\/19 campaign, Forster spent last season on loan at Celtic, where he made 35 appearances for Neil Lennon<\/a>\u2019s treble-winning squad.<\/p>\n

Returning to Southampton in the summer, the England international found himself once again on the bench but, with McCarthy self-isolating, Forster finally has his chance to retake the gloves.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a>