Brazil A Learning Curve For Forster

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster has declared the World Cup a "fantastic" learning experience despite England's disappointment and his scarce time for reflection. Forster did not feature in Brazil but won his second cap in a warm-up against Honduras before soaking up the knowledge of team-mates and coaches alike. The 26-year-old hoped to remain in Brazil until mid-July but finds himself already back with his club at their pre-season training camp in Austria after England's group-stage exit. But the lessons he learned in South America are still fresh and he wants to take them into his day-to-day work. Forster told Celtic TV: "It was a fantastic experience. It was great to be part of a World Cup in Brazil. "It would have been nice to have stayed in the competition a bit longer but we played well in the games and didn't get the results we needed. "On a personal level it was good to be involved. I think I learnt a lot. "You spend a lot of time around people that you're not normally around. You watch and learn what other people do and try to take one or two per cent from other people and incorporate that into your game, or your training or gym work. There is plenty you can learn." With Celtic's Champions League campaign kicking off in Iceland on July 15 against KR Reykjavik, Forster has wasted no time in rejoining his team-mates. Despite the arrival of Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who has signed after recovering from a career-threatening knee injury, and the continued presence of Lukasz Zaluska, Forster is back in the fold days after his previous season ended. "I've only had five days or a week off," the former Newcastle player said. "The season finished and straight away it was all about the World Cup. The World Cup finished and I was thinking about getting back here for pre-season and hitting the ground running. "It's important we are switched on and everyone gives 100 per cent through pre-season because we all know how big the Champions League games are."