Thursday 11 February 2016 17:02, UK
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has been surprised at the quality of Fraser Forster's play since his return from a long-term knee injury.
Forster has kept five clean sheets in a row since making his Premier League return against Watford last month, helping the Saints secure 13 points out of a possible 15 and climb into seventh place, only two points outside the European places.
The England goalkeeper had been sidelined for 10 months with a torn knee tendon that could even have threatened his career, but a continuation of his form will put him in the frame for a place in Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 squad.
Forster could not have started his road back to the top any more impressively, and Koeman said: "If the player is out for nine or 10 months then you are not sure how they will come back or you are not sure if they will go straight in at that level - but it has surprised me, that he was out for a long time from the start.
"It is a great credit to the player and the medical staff because the player came back in full condition."
But Koeman admitted Forster's return was not the only reason behind Southampton's run of clean sheets, with the rest of their defence having stepped up their performances significantly.
"Of course, Fraser has had an impact in those five clean sheets but in my opinion it is the whole defensive line-up - and defending starts in front," the Dutchman added.
"The whole team needs to work hard and the whole team needs to do good pressing. We had fantastic organisation against West Ham because West Ham didn't create any chances."
