Rick Parry

UNITED comeback hero Ben Foster helped edge United ahead in the Premier League title race but still expects to be temporarily away from Old Trafford when the league battle reaches its climax.

The 24-year-old was plunged into his Reds debut after just one reserve match following his 10-month cruciate knee ligament injury nightmare.

He had been scheduled to go out on loan for the remainder of the season before Edwin Van der Sar's groin injury and Tomasz Kuszczak's one-match ban put the plan on hold.

His display at Pride Park saved United from disaster against doomed Derby County.

But Foster doesn't believe his challenge for Sir Alex Ferguson's keeper berth has been brought forward from next pre-season.

"Depending on the situation with the other goalkeepers I will still be looking to go out on loan for the last few weeks of the season," said Foster.

"The loan idea hasn't been shelved completely, more like it has been put back a couple of weeks. We will see what goes on from here.

"I am not expecting to be kept in front of any of the other goalkeepers. Edwin and Tomasz have been fantastic this season so I have no right to expect that.

"I wouldn't have thought the manager would have too much of a dilemma. Edwin will be fit for Bolton or Liverpool and I have no qualms about him going back in.

"If I was him I would be pretty disappointed if someone came in for one game and took my spot."

Foster has waited three years for his senior United debut after being on loan at Watford for two campaigns before his injury fight this season. But despite the delay he made light of the personal occasion.

"I am not one for nerves really I take things in my stride. It was a big thing for me after injury but I thoroughly enjoyed it," added Foster.

"I actually feel like a United player now! It was more difficult and busier than I had expected. Obviously against Derby after they had got a beating against Chelsea in midweek I thought it was an ideal time for me to be coming back into the team.

"But it turned out that I was doing quite a bit more than I thought it would be.

"However, I wouldn't have it any other way really. I like it like that. I have been used to it being like that at Watford for the last couple of seasons. It was nothing different to me.

"After coming back from injury it was good to get tested like that. Each little situation tested me as it came along. I felt fine. I felt a little bit rusty as it was only my second match back but overall I did okay.

"The two saves in the first half were reaction saves to my left and they did me good. It felt good and got me off to a good start.

"The saves and the reaction things come back pretty quickly. It is not that you have to worry about really it is little things in matches you forget about. Match situations that you can only work on in games. So you need more minutes under your belt to have those experiences that you don't get in training.

"It was great to get my United debut at last. I was just expecting to go out on loan in the last few weeks of the season so Saturday's game was a real bonus for me."