Daily Echo:

FRASER Forster has found himself fourth choice England goalkeeper after manager Gareth Southgate confirmed his team for tomorrow night's friendly against France in Paris.

The Saints shot stopper has had an inconsistent season at St Mary's and has now fallen down the national team's pecking order, with Tom Heaton and Jack Butland set to share goalkeeper duties at the Stade De France for the Three Lions.

That move by Southgate, which will see Heaton start and Butland play the second half, consigns Forster to another bout on the substitutes' bench alongside first choice Joe Hart, who will be rested for the Les Bleus match.

Despite keeping an impressive 14 clean sheets last season for Saints, the 29-year-old's performances have come in for some criticism.

He has previously been considered one of Hart's biggest challengers for the England number one jersey, but Southgate has dampened his prospects with this latest move.

"We've got to maintain the squad environment that people feel involved. That goalkeeping situation, we need to give players an opportunity, game time," Southgate said, referring to Butland and Heaton.

"I think in the past one or two goalkeepers have sort of given up international football because they've not had that chance, so I'm conscious of keeping people involved."

Despite those sentiments, Southgate has overlooked Forster once more.

His last England appearance came in May 2016 in a friendly against Australia and since then has been an unused sub in ten successive internationals.

Former Saints goalkeeper Paul Jones reckons Forster will be disappointed with how the past season has gone, but is positive that the former Celtic man will turn it around.

"He's probably not had his best season," said Jones. "He's been reasonably consistent but I think he'll be a little bit disappointed with one or two goals that he let in.

"Obviously he's in the England squad which is great and, don't forget, he's coming back from a serious injury in the last 12 to 18 months, so that takes time.

"He's only going to get better, I'm sure."

Forster, who beat Jones' record for the longest time without conceding in the Premier League for Saints two seasons' ago, thinks having a settled back four will aid the towering custodian's form.

"It hasn't helped the chopping changing the centre halves in front of you," he said. "As a goalkeeper you work with your centre-backs, the two in front of you is the main triangle of the stability of the back four.

"But when the injuries come in and, add the chopping and changing, it can be difficult to get a rapport together, and hopefully that starts again next season with a settled team at the back."