World Cup 2014: Ben Foster ready to step-up against Ecuador but admits he wanted more playing time for England since coming out of retirement

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Ben Foster has admitted today that he would have liked more opportunities with England since coming out of international retirement but has told the Evening Standard that he is ready to start in goal when England take on Ecuador on Wednesday.

Since the 2012 European Championships, England have played 20 matches with Roy Hodgson's first-choice Joe Hart starting all but two of them.

Even though there were ten friendlies during that period, Hodgson has been reluctant to experiment between the sticks. Fraser Forster has played just one full game against Chile, with duo Jack Butland and John Ruddy - omitted from the World Cup squad - featuring for 45 minutes each against Italy in August 2012.

Foster reneged on his 2011 decision to take a break from England duty in February last year and has only played one half for his country – against the Republic of Ireland in May 2013 – but the 31-year-old is set to start in England’s World Cup warm-up game against Ecuador here in Miami tomorrow.

And he told the Evening Standard: “Obviously it would be nice to play some more games but I think Joe is one of these guys who likes to know he is playing to be honest with you. It is the same at your club, if you know you are playing week in, week out, you can tailor everything around it.

“So you know when you come away with England, you can tailor you week’s training to get ready for a game. It is different for an outfield player because they do all their work separately. But for a goalkeeper it is important to know you are playing, not only for how you tailor your training, but mentally as well.

“I think it will be quite easy to come in. That’s a big difference with Roy – he makes everybody feel part of the 23. We have placed a huge importance and emphasis on the fact that we are a 23-man squad – it is not just the 11 that go out on a given matchday.

“It is the whole squad – everybody has got a part to play. That’s a huge part because you know when you get thrown in….for example, I’ve been told I am going to play in the game on Wednesday. It is nice to know – I knew last week I am going to be playing the game on Wednesday so I can tailor my week to get ready for it.”

Hodgson is expected to name a much-changed team tomorrow to the one that defeated Peru 3-0 at Wembley on Friday with Jack Wilshere, Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Luke Shaw all expected to start at the Sun Life Stadium.