Fraser Forster has ruled out the possibility of a January return to Southampton.
The keeper joined Celtic on loan at the end of August and quickly recaptured the form that earned him a place in the 2014 England World Cup squad and a £12m transfer to Southampton.
Forster’s career seemed to be going along steadily enough until Christmas 2017 when he was dropped by Southampton, last summer he dropped to third choice after Angus Gunn was signed for £10m from Manchester City.
As Southampton plunge head-long into a relegation battle highlighted by a demoralising 9-0 home defeat from Leicester their third-choice keeper has been earning plaudits from his Celtic displays with Gareth Southgate hardly spoiled for choice when it comes to keepers.
Loan deals tend to have a variety of clauses but speaking to the media today Forster dismissed the prospect of his move to Celtic being cut short in January.
The BBC reported:
I don’t think there’s a recall [option], so I’m here for the season from my side of things. I’m happy here and glad to be back playing. I just want to do as well as I can. I had a very hard 18 months where I wasn’t playing for Southampton when I was so used to playing. I think I played pretty much every game before then apart from when I was out injured. I’ve had a good start to the season so I’m absolutely buzzing to be up here and making the most of it.”
With his Southampton contract running until 2022 the keeper’s future is largely outwith his control.