Manchester United and England goalkeeper Ben Foster looks set to miss a large chunk of his first season at Old Trafford after undergoing knee surgery. The 24-year-old prospect has had exploratory surgery on a ligament problem that bothered him throughout the recent campaign on loan at Watford and may now have to go under the knife again. Foster withdrew from the England B squad last week after suffering a recurrence of pain that had troubled him in recent months and that prevented him from fully extending his right knee. An operation at Manchester’s Alexandra Hospital in recent days enabled surgeons to clean out Foster’s knee but a decision is yet to be taken on whether the player needs further surgery — that would rule him out for months — or a shorter period of rest. At the moment it appears likely that Foster will need another operation, which will come as a huge blow to a goalkeeper who had harboured hopes of displacing United No 1 Edwin van der Sar next season.
A source close to Foster said last night: "Ben has had some trouble fully extending his knee and it’s a tribute to him that he still managed to kick so well. "The priority now is to sort it out." Foster enjoyed a productive season with Watford — despite relegation — and enjoyed his senior England debut against Spain at Old Trafford. He is viewed as the long-term successor to Van der Sar.
