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Geordie goalkeeper Fraser Forster is heading back to England in a bid to save his international career.

The former Newcastle United player helped Celtic win the Scottish Cup on Sunday, to complete a domestic double, and picked up his fourth winners’ medal in three years with the Glasgow club.

Forster, a Wallsend Boys’ Club graduate, has always said he wanted to return to his native North East.

And has never hidden from the fact he remains an avid fan of Newcastle, who pocketed £2m for the 25-year-old when he agreed a permanent deal with Celtic last summer, despite having never played a first-team game for his boyhood club.

The giant 6ft 7in stopper, originally from Hexham, forced his way into Roy Hodgson’s England set-up last season, but has been left out of the squad for the upcoming games against Brazil and the Republic of Ireland.

And it looks as though he would jump at the chance of a move to the Premier League if the chance arises.

Forster said: “It’s a tough one. Celtic have been fantastic for me and this season couldn’t have gone much better, both personally and as a team.

“But it’s disappointing not to be in this England squad.

“I’ve got to be looking towards the World Cup next year and trying to be on that plane. So I’ll just have to do whatever is necessary to make that squad.

“I’ve got quite a while left on my contract here, and if we can get through the Champions League qualifiers – which will be tough – to get in the group stage again would be something special. We’ll just have to wait and see.

“I didn’t get an explanation as to why I was left out this time although I haven’t spoken to anyone at England. It’s just one of those things.

“We haven’t got that long off in the summer anyway, so you just have to take the positives out of it. I’ll get a good rest and come back next season raring to go. My plan is to go away and get some sunshine and relax. It’s been a very long season.

“Was it a body-blow not to be in the squad? Well, yes. That’s where you want to be.

“Having had a taste of being in an England squad before and after Christmas, that’s what you’re aiming for. Once you’ve been in, you want to be in every time.

“It’s a World Cup year and World Cups in Brazil don’t come around very often. That would be something special.

“I’ll just have to do whatever I can to force my way on to that plane.”

Forster moved away from Newcastle because he wanted to play first-team football.

He has excelled up north, not only on the domestic scene, but also in the Champions League.

This is why a number of clubs, including Everton, have scouted the keeper in recent months.

Forster signed for Newcastle in 2006, but never thought he would break through to the first team, which is why he ended up in Scotland.

He admitted: “It’s been brilliant at Celtic. It’s been a very long season but we’ve done well on all fronts. We wrapped the league up early doors and had this final to look forward to, so it’s nice to get the job done.

“The exposure from the Champions League this season helped a lot of us. That’s where you’ve got to test yourself against the best players in the world.

“We’ll want to do well next year, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Forster will never give up on his dream of representing the Toon, no matter where his career takes him.

He said: “I’m a Newcastle fan and I’ve got unfinished business there. It was a wrench to leave because it’s my hometown club. But it wasn’t meant to be.”