Image credit: Watford FC

Former England and Watford FC goalkeeper Ben Foster desperately wants to see an Indian footballer playing in the Premier League in the time to come.

The Premier League club and the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) side Odisha FC earlier this week agreed to a historic three-year International Club Partnership and the Watford custodian believes the tie-up is going to benefit Indian football in no small measure.

“…When we talk about the partnership between Watford and Odisha FC, the exciting part for me is coming over to Odisha FC, try and implement something that can really improve Indian football, especially Odisha. I really want to see an Indian footballer over in the Premier League, absolutely wrecking it up and smashing it up. The world really needs that, crying out for it,” Foster told the Hero ISL in an interview.

Foster, who has previously played for clubs like Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City, doesn’t also rule out the possibility of his joining one of the Hero ISL teams in the near future.

“I’m 38 years old. My contract at Watford runs out at the end of the season. The position I am in, I think it’s really exciting where I don’t really fully know what is next for me. I know I am fit as a fiddle. I know I can still play at a high level but where next? It’s going to be a big question. It could be America, it could be India, it could be Odisha,” he said.

“I have never been in this position before where my contract is expiring but I am actually quite liking it because I am enjoying playing my football and I am excited for the future as well. So, without doubt it’s [the possibility of a move to India] going to be an option. It’s going to be something that I need to address and assess at the end of the season and see what’s best for me,” he went on to add.

Foster debuted for England in 2007 and went on to represent them in eight games. The tall goalkeeper, who last featured for the Three Lions in the 2014 World Cup against Costa Rica in a goalless draw, also shared his thoughts on England legend David James who kept goal for Kerala Blasters FC in the inaugural edition of the Hero ISL in 2014. The Blasters had a great season having conceded the least number of goals at the end of the league stage (11) before losing to ATK FC in the grand finale.

“…I have trained with David James when I was with England, when I was a youngster. He scared the life out of me. He is so big and such a good goalkeeper. What a guy! But like I said, you can only make these decisions [as to what’s next for him] near the end of the season,” Foster said.