Tony Pulis: Ben Foster close to Albion return
Ben Foster is less than a month away from returning from his knee injury, according to Albion boss Tony Pulis.
The Baggies goalkeeper damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Stoke back in March.
Sidelined since then, Foster has been on a long and arduous road to recovery but yesterday Pulis hinted there was light at the end of the tunnel.
"Ben is hopefully on the grass next week so that's getting closer for us," he said.
When the manager was asked when the England keeper might be available for selection, he said: "Hopefully a month, three weeks, maybe two weeks.
"He had a setback so the setback has obviously knocked him."
Foster was Joe Hart's deputy for England before the injury, and with the European Championships looming at the end of the season, the 32-year-old will be itching to get back on to the field in time to make a case for his inclusion in Roy Hodgson's squad.
But that probably hinges on him getting his place back from Boaz Myhill at Albion.
Including the Welshman's contribution in the Stoke game, Myhill has kept 11 clean sheets in 20 Premier League games since Foster's injury.
"Boaz has done exceptionally well," admitted Pulis. "Since he's come into the team his record is exceptional."
But the manager, who prides himself on getting teams organised, also played down the impact one person has on stopping the opposition from scoring.
Even if that person is the keeper.
"One person doesn't keep clean sheets, it's got to be the whole team," he said.
"We work as a team when we haven't got the ball, and we work as a team when we have got the ball.
"I think it's very important that people recognise it's not the two centre-halves, it's not the goalkeeper, it's everybody together as one unit that helps keep those clean sheets."
There's no doubt that Myhill has been playing well.
His stellar performances in goal have kept the impact of Foster's injury to a minimum on the pitch.
But Pulis says the former Manchester United and Birmingham City keeper's absence has been more keenly felt off the pitch.
"I don't think people have mentioned it as often as perhaps they could have, in respect of missing such an influential player, and an influential player in the dressing room as well," he said.
If Pulis decides to reinstate Foster as number one once both players are fit, he knows it will be a hard decision to sell to Myhill.
But the manager has faith in the 32-year-old's maturity.
"Boaz is a very sound lad," he said. "He's an experienced lad, he knows the score, he knows the game."
