Fraser Forster will continue along the road to recovery and get a game under his belt for Saints U21 side.

Fraser Forster will hopefully play his first game since his knee injury against Burnley almost 10 months ago, when Saints U21 side face Chelsea in their defence of the Premier League U21 cup.

Not the easiest of comebacks for Forster but he has made good progress in his rehabilitation and after an initial diagnosis of 9-12 months on the sidelines is at the quicker end of a return.

He has been back in full training since mid December and if was not for the Xmas period then he probably would have made his comeback to match action a little earlier than today.

If he comes through tonight unscathed then he will have taken a big hurdle towards a return to the first team, if he had got this game in a week or so ago then he may well have been in contention for Saturday's game against Palace in the cup which would have been an ideal opportunity, however that could be a little too much to ask of him at this stage and could risk further injury to play twice in a week.

However it does point to the fact that he could well be ready to return to the first team squad in the coming weeks, although he will have to compete for his place, but this could well put pressure on Maarten Stekelenburg to up his game to hang on to the first team keepers jersey whic can only be good for Saints.

Photo: Action Images

GeordieSaint added 12:49 - Jan 6 I didn't see this anywhere on the site or on the echo but here is a heart warming little story concerning Fraser. Better than stressing about who will go and stay and so on. Love the fact they were hoping for a thousand quid. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-34922350
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SaintBrock added 14:31 - Jan 6 Hope he plays tonight as game is being streamed live on U-Tube.
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TimSaint added 15:05 - Jan 6 Don't get our hopes and expectations up too high guys. Yes it will be fantastic for us to have him pushing for a first team starting slot, but just look at JRod and realise that so far he has had just a few games in fully 21 months.
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LesVivian added 09:33 - Jan 7 Get this into perspective: it's great that an excellent, but far from faultless, keeper is almost back - however, his absence is not what is causing our present difficulties. Goalkeeping has not been the problem - it is the midfield and right back, and to a lesser extent the forwards, where we have been short. No goal-scorers in midfield, as well as a disgruntled, non-passing assassin letting us down there, and a mis-firing wantaway are contributing to an ineffective unit which is unable to supply the forwards with enough chances to compensate for their profligacy in front of goal. So, welcome back Forster, but could you play up front??

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SaintBrock added 11:58 - Jan 7 A bit disingenuous Les, good keepers are just as important as good strikers in a well balanced team. It's not just about stopping shots or positioning, where most are competent, they have to have also a fantastic communication and understanding with their two central defenders in particular as the last line of defence. Fraser is really intelligent just like Joe Hart and most probably sees things happening in the game that many miss long before a threat on goal develops and a goalie's vantage point is unique in that he has time to study the pattern of play. If he can communicate this to his central defenders in particular he can improve their awareness as well so as a trio they can read the game far more effectively. How often have we seen Ron and his team telling players to communicate more and I think Fraser does that particularly well. Team mates really respond to that type of leadership on the field. Of course defending is a team activity in which all must play their parts as we saw most effectively last night at Staplewood but that does not in any way obviate the need for special qualities in goalkeepers. Joe Hart hasn't kept so many clean sheets by chance your know.

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IWOZTHERE added 22:38 - Jan 7 As Brock said, Les's post is disingenuous, but put on the spot, I don't disagree with any of it.
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