Saturday 6 February 2016 18:12, UK
Fraser Forster believes his hard work on the training pitch has paid off after nine months out injured left him feeling frustrated.
The Southampton goalkeeper is yet to concede since returning to Ronald Koeman's side, and can become the first Saints stopper in 15 years to keep five consecutive league clean sheets with another shutout against West Ham on Saturday Night Football.
Forster had been in good form when he suffered a broken kneecap against Burnley in March last year, and the long road to recovery was a challenging one at times for the former Celtic 'keeper.
"I am just delighted to be back playing really," Forster told Soccer Saturday. "It was a tough nine months, and obviously I have just worked hard to get back.
"It is the longest I have ever been out for. It is obviously very frustrating, but there is nothing you can really do about it. Fortunately, there is a fantastic medical department here. I have put in a lot of hours and it is nice to be back playing.
"There are always tough days and good days. There are days when you can't really do a lot. You just have so much time on your hands, and you have to let nature do its thing. Once you can get in the gym and out on the training pitch doing some ball work it gets a lot easier.
"I am fortunate to have great people around me who support me. I have looked at it as an opportunity to come back stronger than before. I was surprisingly more patient that I thought I'd be."
Forster produced a man-of-the-match display to keep out Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in midweek, preserving a point for Southampton that moved them up to seventh in the table.
Six weeks ago the south coast club feared being sucked into a relegation battle, but a four-game unbeaten run in the league has Forster looking up rather than down.
"To have the results that we have had has been a real bonus," he added. "Before the Arsenal game I had been pretty quiet, and we were solid as a team. Going to the Emirates, you know you are going to be worked.
"Right from Shane Long, back through the team, we put in a great shift. Obviously it was nice to make a few saves. It was a good point for us.
"It was nice to come back in the team and not be overworked, and I could build up some confidence."
Southampton's upturn in form has coincided with a new-look formation as Koeman experimented with a 3-5-2 set-up in January.
The Saints manager returned to a back four in the goalless draw at the Emirates, but Forster believes the tactical flexibility has played a part in the club's change in fortunes.
"Things didn't go our way, and we didn't have the luck we needed, but that has changed," he continued. "The manager still had great belief in the group. He always believed that the results would come, and we would turn that corner.
"Obviously, with the change of formation things have changed in recent weeks. With the players we have got, it really suited us and results have picked up.
"We changed again for the Arsenal game, but for whatever reason it seemed to work. As long as we are picking up results it doesn't really matter.
"We are on a really good run, but we never look more than a game ahead. We were good at that last year so we will see where it takes us."
Watch Southampton against West Ham on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5pm.
