Ben Foster has today admitted that whilst he would like to stay at Manchester United, he wants to move on if he can’t get in to the first team.

After a frustrating few years with loan moves and injury, Foster finally had the chance to prove himself at the start of this season when Edwin Van der Sar was missing from August to October. Sadly for him, he failed to make the most of that opportunity and made several costly mistakes.

In all honesty, I feel fairly sorry for the lad. He has put his career on hold for more or less five years for a chance with United, despite him being capable of getting first team action at other Premiership clubs. Granted, he blew it this season, but you do have to think he will look back on his career and what might have been. Had he done a good job at the start of the season he could be the United number one and off to the World Cup, but as Foster acknowledges, it’s likely all downhill from here.

“You never want to leave Manchester United,” said Foster. “If you leave this club you are only ever going to go down, but I want to be playing football. I am not interested in just hanging around and I would go if the club wanted to sell me. If they are happy to accept a bid then you have to read between the lines and realise you are not really needed and move on. It would not be the end of the world for me.”

At the start of the season, with Foster playing more regularly for United, there was lots of talk of him going to the World Cup, however he concedes that is very unlikely now.

“I don’t think there is any chance of South Africa now,” he continued. “If he were to pick me it would be very unfair on some of the other goalkeepers. I have not played a first-team game for a good few months and some of the English lads out there like Joe Hart and Robert Green have been doing fantastic.”

Best of luck, Ben.