Foster will challenge Hart, says Ridgewell

Liam Ridgewell believes his West Brom team-mate Ben Foster will rival Joe Hart for his position as England’s No.1 goalkeeper.

Having previously withdrawn from international football, the 29-year-old agreed last month to return to the England squad after speaking to manager Roy Hodgson ahead of Friday’s 8-0 win over San Marino and Tuesday’s away game against Montenegro.

“I am sure it will be a very good competition between them,” Ridgewell told the Daily Mirror.

“It is phenomenal to think there is someone ahead of Ben, we have two such good goalkeepers who both deserve to play in every game.

“The two of them are brilliant shot-stoppers, good at kicking, good at talking and when you need them most they make that vital save. I’d hate to be Roy in having to try to pick one of them!”

The defender has played with both Hart and Foster in his time at Birmingham City and West Brom, and believes there is little to choose between them.

He explained: “I don’t see why Ben shouldn’t belong in that bracket, he has been playing so well for a long period of time.

“He is easily an international class goalkeeper and I think he would get in most international teams in Europe.

“It’s brilliant for England to have someone like that. It’s just been unfortunate for him that England has two goalies at top-drawer level in Joe and him. I don’t see too many other international teams that have the standard of goalie that England have got.”