Fraser Forster has said that rebooting his Celtic career could put him in the frame for a return to England duty with Gareth Southgate’s team.
As reported in The Scottish Sun, 31-year-old expects that a return to European football, where he earned a number of accolades in his first spell at Celtic, could be the key to forcing his way back into International reckoning.
“I’d love to be a part of the England squad. I’d never close that door and I’d always want that to be an ambition of mine.
“We went through the Champions League the last time, we’re going through the Europa League this year. It all comes down to me performing the best I can, whether it’s Europa League or in the league.
“If I’m doing that then it forces other people into making decisions. The main thing is I work hard and try to perform well here.”
The goalie, who spent four years in Glasgow with Celtic, has made six appearances for the National team, with his debut coming in 2013; however, the goalie hasn’t been in a squad since August 2017.
Forster acknowledged that Group E, which Celtic sit atop, is very open due to the competitive nature of all the teams, who will be wanting to play European football after Christmas.
“The profile of the Europa League definitely helps. It’s a very open group at the minute. It’s a very good group to be in, one we really want to get out of.
“There are the big games against big teams and we have a double header against Lazio coming up now.
“They’re the games you want to play in and that’s why we all love it when Celtic are in the Champions League.
“Do I hope Gareth is watching on Thursday? I don’t know his TV preferences! But play as well as I can and the rest will take care of itself.”
Given Gareth Southgate’s tendency to look beyond a player’s team and look at his form could be key to Forster achieving a call-up; albeit with Jordan Pickford, Tom Heaton and Nick Pope – as well as Jack Butland struggling at Stoke, Forster will need to be at his best to achieve an international call-up.
