Foster's Going Nowhere

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed suggestions that Ben Foster's United days are numbered.

The England international, who started the season as the Reds' first-choice goalkeeper, has been deposed by the return from injury of Edwin van der Sar.

Foster recently voiced his frustration at the peculiar situation of being higher up the pecking order internationally than domestically, but Sir Alex insists the 26-year-old is going nowhere.

"He is definitely staying here," said the United manager. "He has had a couple of bad mistakes in games but his performance level has been very good. He will be a terrific goalkeeper. So will Tomasz Kuszczak.

"They are good goalkeepers; they just have the problem that they have Edwin van der Sar in front of them."

With 39-year-old van der Sar weighing up his future on an annual basis, Sir Alex is eager to keep hold of a goalkeeper he vehemently believes is the finest at Fabio Capello's disposal.

"Ben is a strong lad. Without doubt he is England's best goalkeeper," he said. "Without question he has the best presence and he is the quickest. He is also very brave.

"But for a lad of 26 he has not had much game experience. That is the negative part for him and that is where maybe it will cost him his England position at the moment.

"However, I am not protecting the lad because he is my goalkeeper but when I look at the abilities of the goalkeepers in the league who are English, I don't think they are as good as Ben Foster. It is as simple as that."