FRASER Forster insists that he takes no notice of anyone criticising his performances.

The goalkeeper took some flak for his displays last season, but he is adamant that it's "all history" and that he's feeling sharper than ever this term.

"You've got a core group people in your life whose opinion you trust," Forster said. "Whether it's football or whatever, you listen to what they say and then you have a lot of people who just want to say stuff.

"Pundits are paid to say stuff about football and whether I agree with it or not it doesn't matter. That's their job and it's the way it is.

"For me last year you can look at last season in a million different ways and you've got people who are going to have their say, but for me it's all in the past and it's all history.

"I'll just listen to the four or five people in my life. They are the ones that matter."

Forster, who will find out if he's in the England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia tomorrow, feels his preparation for this season has him in tip top shape.

"I'm feeling good. I've got in a full pre-season this time around which I didn't get last year. That makes a big difference for any player," he said.

"It gives you that full sharpness and fitness. It's vital, if you look at any player, if you miss pre-season it's hard. For everyone, you benefit from playing friendly games and it means you're ready."

He added: "If you looked at the previous four years I've only had four weeks off in total. Before the summer I played a lot of football and the previous few years I never really had that break.

"When I did my injury I worked harder than when I was fit. The summer gave me a proper chance to have a rest and then get a full pre-season in."

The 29-year-old shot stopper is pleased that Saints have added further quality to the team after the signing of Netherlands international centre-back Wesley Hoedt for £15m from Lazio.

"We've added so much quality over the last few transfer windows and it's another signing that will add more depth to the squad," he said.

"It's another international coming in and another young player. No doubt he'll have plenty of improvement within him.

"He's a Dutch international and will be a fantastic signing for us. It adds that competition in the squad."

Hoedt, 23, follows £5m central defender Jan Bednarek and £16m midfielder Mario Lemina in the St Mary's arrival lounge this summer.

"We've got a couple of good signings in already and we keep adding quality to that squad," Forster added."We're just getting stronger and stronger really, so it's important to have that in a long season.

"The Premier League is obviously very tough and no doubt we'll get injuries a long the way because that's part of the game.

"But it's important to have that strength in depth and it's a real sign of how the club want to move forward and the club's ambitions."