Fabio Capello would welcome Ben Foster back into the England set-up

Ben Foster of Birmingham City(Getty Images)

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England manager Fabio Capello would welcome back Ben Foster despite the Birmingham City goalkeeper’s decision to put his international career on hold.

Foster was a regular in the England set-up, although he was unable to dislodge Manchester City’s Joe Hart from the No.1 jersey, and announced recently that he was making himself unavailable for his country for the foreseeable future.

His decision was fuelled by niggling injuries and a desire to prolong his club career.

Capello, though, has been remarkably understanding about Foster’s choice, as England are currently struggling for top-class replacements for Hart.

“Foster can come back, why not?” Capello said in an article in The Times.

“He’s a good goalkeeper, but he asked me not to play in this game. His fingers were always strapped together.

“He stayed with us in the last game in Wales, but said: ‘Please, at the end of the season I need to have an operation.’ I hope he comes back. I’m happy with these keepers.”

Robert Green has become the forgotten man in the England set-up since the World Cup though he has been recalled to the squad for the game against Switzerland because of Foster’s retirement and David Stockdale’s wedding.

“Green stayed with us always and has played a lot of games with us,” Capello said.

“He didn’t play recently because Joe Hart needed more international games. For this reason Green hasn’t played a lot of games since the World Cup in South Africa.”