FOR Ben Foster the choice has never been clearer - it's club or country.

And the uncomfortable truth for Sir Alex Ferguson is that his goalkeeper's allegiances may be with the national side right now, rather than his day-to-day employers.

Foster started the season with two aims - to be number one for United and England. And three months into the campaign it is Fabio Capello, rather than Ferguson, who is giving him the most encouragement that at least one of those ambitions can be attained.

The England manager broke his own golden rule in selecting Foster for the 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday - picking a player who is not playing regularly at club level. On that basis Michael Owen could have reason to feel aggrieved that he continues to be overlooked by the Italian.

In truth, Foster's continued involvement in the England set-up says more about the dearth of goalkeeping options available to Capello than his own form - but it proves that he remains very much a part of the picture in the build up to next summer's World Cup.

But that will almost certainly not be the case if he continues to only be used as understudy to Edwin van der Sar at United.

The question for the 26-year-old is whether he backs his own ability to establish himself as United's number one between now and the end of the season, or whether he seeks regular first team football elsewhere.

A season that was supposed to be his coming of age has quickly unravelled into a nightmare - but Saturday's defeat to Brazil has proved the sole highlight.

It has also presented him with the toughest dilemma of his career to date.

Foster has waited four years to get the chance to establish himself as United's first choice - but handed that opportunity at the start of the season, off the back of a new contract, he spectacularly fluffed his lines.

High-profile gaffes against Chelsea, Arsenal and City raised major doubts about his ability to succeed van der Sar, as well as his credentials to be Capello's first choice in South Africa.

Even Ferguson was mildly critical of the man he had long tipped as the future for club and country - and the haste with which he reinstalled van der Sar as number one only confirmed his growing doubts about Foster.

The United manager has since hailed the 39-year-old Dutchman as the greatest ever keeper, alongside Peter Schmeichel, and hinted at extending his career further with a new contract.

Add to that his interest in a host of Europe's top goalkeepers and the future looks glum for Foster.

With CSKA's Igor Akinfeev and Manuel Neuer of Schalke high on Ferguson's shopping list, Foster could be well- advised to get out now while he still has a chance of making the World Cup.

Determination

The worst case scenario for the former Stoke man would be to stick it out at Old Trafford, only to miss out on Capello's squad and then find himself surplus to requirements at United next summer.

There would be no shortage of takers if Foster sought a move in January - but it remains to be seen if Ferguson would be willing to let him go with van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak his only other senior goalkeepers.

So much could depend on Foster's own determination to seek regular football elsewhere.

He knows he may never get a better chance to play at a World Cup with David James' fitness increasingly becoming a concern for Capello and few other candidates emerging from the Premier League.

Robert Green is best placed to challenge James, while none of Paul Robinson, Joe Hart, Scott Carson or Chris Kirkland appear to have earned Capello's faith.

Whether Foster has done that remains to be seen - but the England manager has given him more leeway than most.

Picking him on the strength of his performance in the Carling Cup final last season, it seemed that Foster only had to hold down a regular place at United to ensure his ticket to South Africa.

But that has proved more difficult than expected - yet Capello continues to persist.

Foster's comments on Monday, however, point to his own realisation that he can't expect such unwavering support forever.

Foster's main problem is that despite his undoubted talent, he is woefully inexperienced for his age, having made only 125 appearances at club level.

Clarification

That became abundantly evident when thrown into the action this season and it is a matter of whether United can afford to wait for him to find him feet or let him do it elsewhere.

Foster will seek clarification from Ferguson before deciding his next step, but the signs are increasingly pointing towards the exit.

If that is the case, he will want to do it sooner rather than later so as to give himself the best chance possible of forcing his way onto the plane for next summer.

With Ferguson weighing up moves for Akinfeev and Neuer in January, it would clear the way for Foster's departure - but the United manager will almost certainly block any deal if he fails to bring in adequate cover.