It took Ben Foster almost three years to make his competitive United debut; signed in July 2005 and touted as Edwin van der Sar’s chief understudy, he was outstanding in a 1-0 win over Derby County on 15 March 2008.

Foster was snatched from relative obscurity at Stoke City and arrived at Old Trafford after catching Sir Alex Ferguson's eye while on loan at Wrexham. The young shot-stopper was eventually prised from the Potters, without ever playing for the first team, for an undisclosed fee. He's never stayed in one place long, however, with five loan spells in three years at the Britannia, and that continued after his move

to Manchester.

After just one-and-a-half pre-season friendlies with United's Reserves in summer 2005, he was farmed out to Watford on a season-long loan. Tipped for relegation, the Hornets had a stunning campaign thanks in no small part to Foster. Aidy Boothroyd's men won Premier League promotion after a 3-0 Championship Play-off final win over Leeds.

Foster was subsequently named on the standby list for England's 2006 World Cup squad, cementing his credentials as a potential future no.1 for club and country. Although his presence wasn't required in Germany, his international bow wasn't long in