After impressing for Watford during a season-long Premier League loan in 2006/07 he was hotly tipped to push Edwin van der Sar as first choice until a cruciate knee injury picked up in pre-season ruled him out of action until March.
The young goalkeeper had not made an appearance for Stoke before moving to Old Trafford.
He needed loan moves to gain first team football. The first switch was from Stoke to Kidderminster Harriers in October 2004, where he made his professional bow in a 1-0 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town and played one further game.
Foster then moved to Wrexham for the remainder of the season in January 2005, his debut coming in a 2-1 LDV Vans Trophy at Hereford United. The stopper impressed greatly at the Racecourse Ground even though they were relegated at the end of the campaign.
The goalkeeper picked up his first silverware while at Wrexham as they beat Southend United in the LDV Vans Trophy final.
He also spent time on loan at Bristol City but was only a back-up option.
Just after signing for United, he was loaned to Watford for the 2005/06 season to build up his first team experience.
He made his debut for Watford in a 2-1 home defeat to Preston North End.
After a shaky start for Watford that saw a number of disastrous gaffes, Foster established himself as the first choice keeper, and went on to put in stellar performances as Watford gained promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs.
After Man Utd signed Tomasz Kuszczak as Edwin Van der Sar's back-up, they agreed to extend the loan for the 2006/07 season. And Foster made a fine impression in a side that owed much of its lengthy but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to stay in the Premiership to the superlative stopping of Foster, who was rewarded with his England debut against Spain at Old Trafford in February 2007.
After recovering from the cruciate knee injury, Foster finally made his United debut in a 1-0 victory at Derby County in March 2008.
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