IN a country where goalkeeping talent seems to be in something of short supply, Fraser Forster must be wondering what he has to do to force his way into the England set-up, writes Graeme Macpherson.
John Ruddy's enforced withdrawal yesterday from the squad for next month's European Championships with a broken finger means Jack Butland, a 19-year-old yet to play a competitive game for Birmingham City, will be Roy Hodgson's third-choice goalkeeper behind Joe Hart and Robert Green in Poland and Ukraine.
Celtic have agreed a £2m fee with Newcastle for Forster, after two seasons on loan, but Ruddy is not the only one to suggest his international ambitions might be better served by playing in England. Pat Bonner, though, is not in that number.
"I played for Ireland in two World Cups and a European Championship while with Celtic and [playing in Scotland] didn't affect me regarding getting picked for my country," said Bonner as he helped launch the Tommy Burns Masters golf tournament yesterday. "If you're playing in the Champions League for Celtic then people will always take notice of you. If you were at a smaller club then you might have to make a change – Darren Randolph [of Motherwell] is an example of that. I expected him to be in the Irish squad for the Euros and he didn't make it. But if you're at a big club like Celtic or Rangers you're at the top end and you don't have to move anywhere to prove yourself. I will be confident that if Fraser stays with Celtic and plays well he will catch the eye of the England selectors."
Bonner feels an international call-up for the 24-year-old would have been premature. "I don't think Fraser's ready for that just yet," said Bonner. "He's improving and learning a lot, but he's got a bit to go yet to reach that level. If he has another year in the Celtic team and plays in the Champions League as well as he did against Udinese [in last season's Europa League] then he should be considered before some of these other guys."
Bonner hopes Celtic can now conclude a permanent transfer for Forster. "Last year that didn't happen and I think that affected him," added Bonner. "The season was started before he came back and I think that upset them a little bit defensively."
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