Ben Foster to return to Watford?

Speculation is mounting that Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster could be in line for a return to Vicarage Road.

The 23-year-old, who spent last season on a season-long loan at Watford, returned to training with Manchester United last Sunday, but could start the season with the club whom he help guide to the Premier League.

"It`s in the balance and very much up in the air," Foster told the Watford Observer. "I started training with Manchester United on Monday and I know Watford are not back for another two weeks."

Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd is believed to be in talks with Sir Alex Ferguson about brining the £1million-buy from Stoke City back to Hertfordshire for another season, but it if Sir Alex has earmarked the Leamington Spa-born stopper as Edwin van der Sar`s understudy - following the loaning of Tim Howard to Everton - it will dash the Hornets` hopes of acquiring Foster on another short-term deal.

However, recent transfer speculation suggests that Ferguson is in the market for another goalkeeper, with West Brom`s Tomaszs Kuszcak being one of the names linked with a move to Old Trafford.

"Staying at United would be OK, but, for me personally, I`d love to be at Watford," explained Foster. "The chance to play Premiership football week in, week out is everything a young footballer could want. I love everything about the club, the player, the staff, the manager. It is a very professional set up and I want to be part of that playing in that week in and week out."

"Either way it`s going to be a good situation for me," added Foster. "Being number two at Manchester United will be a good experience and I`ll learn a lot from someone like Edwin, but if I can get a season at Watford, in the Premiership then that is going to help my development."

"I`ve learnt a lot working with Alec Chamberlain and hopefully, if I come back, he can keep teaching me things."

Foster was instrumental in Watford`s promotion-winning campaign, keeping 14 clean sheets, which earned him rave reviews for his displays whilst playing at Championship level for the first time in his career. Something that resulted in the former trainee chef being placed on stand-by for the England squad for the 2006 World Cup, following an injury to Robert Green.

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