Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to hand goalkeeper Ben Foster a new contract before the end of the season.

The Times says Foster will hope to have his resolved before then, with United giving the England goalkeeper every chance to prove his fitness after a succession of injuries that have interrupted a promising career at Old Trafford.

Foster is expected to win a new contract, with Ferguson having indicated that he expects the 25-year-old to stake a proper claim for the No 1 jersey next season along with Tomasz Kuszczak, who is tied to the club until June 2012.