Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster is fully fit and ready for competitive action.

Foster's promising career with Manchester United was stopped in its tracks by a cruciate ligament problem that needed surgery on his right knee last summer.

But after the best part of a season on the sidelines, the 24-year-old is back and was desperate to play in United's reserve team against Liverpool at Warrington last night.

Sir Alex Ferguson decided to hold Foster back for another week before considering him for the next reserve game against Middlesbrough a week tomorrow.

A source close to Foster told the Daily Mail recently: "Ben feels he is at the age where he wants to stake his claim. His priority is getting fit, but he feels he is doing that. After that, he really wants to make a start on his career at United."