Koeman provides Forster boost

Ronald Koeman is pleased that Fraser Forster is making good progress and confirmed that the goalkeeper could return to first team training from his serious knee injury in the next "four or five weeks".

The England international suffered damaged to his left patellar tendon at the end of March in Southampton’s 2-0 win over Burnley. However, the former Celtic ‘keeper could make a return to the Saints side before the turn of the year, four months ahead of schedule.

"He’s doing very good, he works very hard. Everybody is happy with how he is and that he’s recovering well," Ronald Koeman told the press on Thursday ahead of the side’s match at Sunderland.

"He’s already starting doing training sessions with Dave Watson [Southampton’s and England’s goalkeeper coach] and that is real goalkeeping sessions."

The club originally expected the ‘keeper to be out for an entire year but Koeman confirmed that he could return to first team training before the busy Christmas schedule.

"I think maybe he can be part of the group in four or five weeks. He’s coming back from April, it’s a long time and of course he needs to continue training. His first game will be with the Under 21’s."

A strong return to the Saints side from Fraser Forster could not only provide Maarten Stekelenberg with competition in the second half of the season, but could also force himself into Roy Hodgson’s plans for Euro 2016.