Manchester United Boss Alex Ferguson Rules Out Ben Foster Loan Deal

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he has no plans to send goalkeeper Ben Foster out on loan again this season.

The player has spent useful spells at Watford in the past, and has lost his place in the first team at United now that Edwin van der Sar has returned to action.

Foster will not be departing the club in January though.

"Ben was always going to lose his place when Edwin Van der Sar came back," Ferguson explained to The News of the World.

"You don't dismiss the quality and experience of Van der Sar. You couldn't even say he is declining - he is at his peak. He is phenomenal. He really is top dog.

"He is in training every day. He doesn't miss a session. Plus he has that calmness about him. He never gets excited about what is happening round about him. There are not many in England you can compare him with.

"The future belongs to Ben of course. Tomasz Kuszczak is a good keeper too so we are quite strong. But Ben will not be allowed out on loan in January. No way."

Van der Sar's contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season, but the player himself will be allowed to choose when he retires, according to his club boss.

"He makes his own decisions about that. There is no point me trying to persuade a man of 38 that he can carry on or should finish," Ferguson added.

"He is a great professional and a sensible man. He has his own thoughts on what he wants to do, how long he wants to go on for and what his future is.

"He just comes to me once a year and says he wants another contract and we'll stick with that."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK