Saints manager Ronald Koeman hailed the performance of Fraser Forster against West Brom and says the keeper is capable of becoming England’s number one.

The 26-year-old signed in a £10m deal from Celtic this summer and he showed on Saturday why the club decided to spend so much money on bringing him to St Mary’s.

The 6ft 7in Forster was a commanding presence, claiming numerous balls into the box with authority and making a superb one-on-one save to deny Albion striker Brown Ideye late in the match.

“The goalkeeper is a very good one, we know that, because that’s the reason why we sign players,” said Koeman. “He’s a young age for a goalkeeper.

“Ok, we knew the situation about (Artur) Boruc in our club, with one season more on his contract, more older, and we have to change that, and he brings qualities, he brings experience and he showed that.

“It was a difficult one last week. He didn’t have a lot of work to do as a goalkeeper.

“Today not (either), but in the one or two moments, in the crosses, he was very good.

“He’s a tall one, he’s a good goalkeeper. He’s a goalkeeper for the future and he shows his qualities.”

Koeman would not be pressed into saying that Forster should be England’s first choice, saying it is not up to him who Roy Hodgson picks, but he did agree that the keeper has the abilities to do the job.

“He’s capable,” he said. “He was one of the three goalkeepers in the World Cup.

“If you take three to the World Cup, all the three can play, because they are all good goalkeepers.”

It didn’t take long for the Saints fans to start chanting “England’s number one” on Saturday, as Forster impressed.

Koeman added: “Ok, we like that, that he will be number one of England, of course, because that’s good for himself, it’s good for his experience, and finally it’s good for Southampton.”

Having been left out at Liverpool on the opening weekend, Boruc was again not included in the matchday squad on Saturday, after informing the club he wishes to leave in order to find first-team football.

Koeman has revealed Saints are willing to move the Poland international on before the transfer window closes, although they will reassess his standing in the squad once the deadline passes if he is still at St Mary’s.

Should he go, though, Koeman says there are no plans to bring in a new back-up keeper.

He did reaffirm that the club are continuing to look to add “one or two” more players before the deadline.