Sir Alex Feels For Foster

Sir Alex Ferguson admits Ben Foster's World Cup chances have been hit by a lack of first-team football for United this season.

Ferguson has long championed Foster's England cause but accepts the 27-year-old goalkeeper needs to be playing regularly at the top level if he is to be considered for Fabio Capello's squad this summer.

Foster started United's first eight league games this term with Edwin van der Sar out injured, but he was then ousted by Tomasz Kuszczak.

And with van der Sar having signed a new one-year deal in February and playing as well as ever, Foster has been limited to just one appearance for the Reds in 2010.

"I’ve had a chat with Ben and I understand his dilemma," Sir Alex said. "There’s nothing I can do about that [lack of action], to be honest with you. He’s a terrific goalkeeper and we’ll see what the future brings for the boy.

"In my mind he has a talent to be the England goalkeeper and we’re conscious of that. We’d like to help but unfortunately he’s not played enough football to get him on that plane to South Africa, I feel."