raser Forster has been called up to the England squad for the first time since 2017 ahead of matches against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.
The Southampton goalkeeper will join up with Gareth Southgate’s team after Sam Johnstone has to withdraw from illness. He joins Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope in the squad.
It’s a call up that would have seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago for the 34-year-old, but Johnstone’s illness follows an injury to Aaron Ramsdale that has kept the Arsenal man away from England duty this international break.
Forster did not feature in the Premier League this season until Boxing Day but has played every minute for Southampton since. He has made six appearances for England, the last of which came against Australia in 2016, and he was an unused substitute for all of England’s matches at Euro 2016.
England face Switzerland on Saturday March 26 before welcoming Ivory Coast to Wembley on Tuesday March 29, as they continue their preparations for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.