West Brom No 1 Ben Foster back for England

Hawthorns head coach Steve Clarke today revealed Foster is willing to play for his country again, after talks with Hodgson to end his international sabbatical.

Foster could now be included in away World Cup qualifiers against San Marino on March 22 and Montenegro on March 26, with the squads due to be announced in early March.

The 29-year-old rejected Hodgson's appeal for him to end his self-imposed exile last summer, following the veteran coach's departure from the Hawthorns to take charge of England.

The player insisted he needed to spend international breaks resting with his family, to avoid the risk of the niggling injuries that blighted earlier parts of his career returning.

But Scot Clarke said: "Ben spoke to me about it last week. His reasons are good. He's had his little time out that he wanted to spend with his young family, which you can understand and respect.

"He also had some injury problems that he felt needed time during the season to help him recover and get from game to game.

"His family is a bit older now and I think he's getting a few days off in the international break and finding his kids are at school, so he has a little bit more spare time on his hands.

"And he's obviously got ambition as well. He wants to make himself available for his country again. But he explained to me he wanted to play for his country again.

"He would like to play in a major tournament, which is something I regret in my career, having not played for Scotland in a major tournament.

"He's at the peak of his form and he's proved he's international class in the past and, if selected, I'm sure he'll prove it again.

"The injury problems he had a couple of years ago are gone, by and large, and he's in great shape.

"And what better place to go and play in a major international tournament than the World Cup in Brazil."

Hodgson is desperate to increase his goalkeeping options, especially with Joe Hart suffering a slight dip in form this season with Manchester City.

Hart remains Hodgson's clear No 1, but the national boss is short of cover with Norwich's John Ruddy out injured since November and former first-choice Rob Green losing his place in the Queens Park Rangers team.

That has left Celtic's Fraser Forster and inexperienced Birmingham youngster Jack Butland as the only obvious alternatives to Hart.

Former Baggies goalkeeper Scott Carson, who is now in Turkey with Bursaspor, is another option for Hodgson.

But the England boss has shown little inclination to recall the Cumbrian, having replaced him at the Hawthorns with Foster.

Foster won five full caps for England between 2007 and 2010, but made himself unavailable during his time with Birmingham.

But he has a close working relationship with England goalkeeping coach Dave Watson, who was on the Blues staff during his time at St Andrew's.