West Bromwich Albion defender Liam Ridewell has declared that his club colleague Ben Foster deserves to be considered as a genuine threat to Joe Hart's place as the first-choice England goalkeeper.

Foster returned to the international scene this month after talking to Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson.

Ridgwell has played with both Foster and Hart during his career and believes that Hodgson has a major selection headache in the long-term if Foster can maintain his current form.

He told The Mirror: "I know them both very well and they're both very good keepers. The two of them are brilliant shot-stoppers, good at kicking, good at talking and when you need them most they make that vital save.

"I'd hate to be Roy in having to try to pick one of them! I am sure it will be a very good competition between them. It is phenomenal to think there is someone ahead of Ben, we have two such good goalkeepers who both deserve to play in every game.

"Ben has been playing so well for a long period of time. He is easily an international class goalkeeper and I think he would get in most international teams in Europe. It's brilliant for England to have someone like that. It's just been unfortunate for him that England has two goalies at top-drawer level in Joe and him."

Hart is expected to keep his place in Hodgson's starting XI for tomorrow night's World Cup qualifier against Montenegro.