Foster, who has played every game this season because of Edwin van der Sar’s thumb injury, was always likely to be rested against Wolves, but his shaky performance against City has now placed his Premier League position in jeopardy.
Ferguson unusually criticised Foster in his programme notes on Sunday for failing to deal with Andrei Arshavin’s goal in last month’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal and, with two goals at the weekend down to the England goalkeeper’s indecision, Kuszczak could dislodge the 26 year-old at Stoke if he impresses against Wolves.
Van der Sar is two weeks from returning and former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel expects the 38 year-old Dutchman to reclaim his starting place.
Schmeichel said: “Ben Foster has done well this season and he certainly looks to be a very good goalkeeper, but I’m sure Edwin will be back in when he’s fit. The manager knows he’s the right guy for the team at the moment.”
Teenage forwards Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck are vying for the right to partner Michael Owen this evening and, after being billed during pre-season as first-team contenders by Ferguson, the United manager has urged the pair to focus on their club football.
He said: “I just think that they are away that much with the [international] youth squads they have forgotten where their real place is. I have also made them aware that you have to work to be successful.
“Welbeck has been called away so much with every single England squad I don’t know if he is our player or their player.
“Macheda has been away with Italy youth teams all the time. He has hardly been with us.”
Owen Hargreaves returns to United on Wednesday to step up his recovery from double knee surgery following months of rehabilitation in the United States.
No comments:
Post a Comment