Ben Foster won’t play any further part in our season, meaning he will miss out on any Champions League medal with Kuszczak ready to sit on the bench.

Having missed large chunks of his career through injury, Foster will now miss a further nine weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his right thumb.

“It is big blow for Ben as not only will he miss the Champions League final but also England’s summer internationals,” said Ferguson. “Ben has tried to continue the season with this injury but it got so critical that an operation was the only way forward. It is disappointing for him but the important thing was to get this operation done.”