Fraser Forster called up to England squad to replace Sam Johnstone | OneFootball

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster has been called up to the England squad to replace West Brom's Sam Johnstone, who has pulled out through illness.

Forster has six international caps to his name, the last of which was won in the Spring of 2016. He was an unused substitute at that summer's European Championships and his final call-up came in October 2017.

After a five-year absence, the 34-year-old is back in the squad to provide cover for Everton's Jordan Pickford and Burnley's Nick Pope.

Gareth Southgate has already lost Arsenal stopper Aaron Ramsdale to a hip injury, with Forster now the fifth goalkeeper to have been invited to join the camp.

Forster spent the 2020/21 season as a backup for Southampton and began the current campaign in the same manner, but has been a starter for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side since December after lead shot stopper Alex McCarthy went down with a thigh injury.

He has featured in Southampton's last 12 Premier League games, keeping two clean sheets and shipping 19 goals.

Forster becomes the third Southampton player to join the England squad, following James Ward-Prowse and Kyle Walker-Peters, the latter of whom was called up after the withdrawals of both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James through injury.