Mental battle is last hurdle for ambitious Saint Ben Foden

Northampton full- back Ben Foden is targeting silverware, an England recall and a place on the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand as he steps up his recovery from knee injury.
Foden’s World Cup hopes disappeared when he ruptured the ACL in his left knee in January against Ospreys, but time spent in America with renowned sports medic Bill Knowles aided the healing process and he is now ready for the new campaign.
“I was in a dark place when they told me what I’d done but you quickly realise there are other things in life,” Foden told The Rugby Paper.
“I’d just become a dad for the second time and we were also moving house, so there was quite a lot on my plate without the injury on top. But I’m fighting fit again and been able to do most of pre-season at Northampton.
“The training can get a bit repetitive so it was good to get out to Philadelphia and see Bill. He’s looked after Charlie Hodgson, Richard Hill and Jonny Wilkinson, as well as Tiger Woods, so I’ve been in good hands.
“Bill put together my programme on how to get back quickly and now it’s about winning the mental battle to make sure I’m still confident and able to do what I did before the injury. Hopefully my form will pick up quickly.”
Foden, who came through his first test against Saracens last week in the 36-17 win, added: “There’ll be hungry boys, me included, looking to perform and those of us who missed out on England will be banging on the door.
“I definitely want to put my hand up for the Six Nations and there’s a tour to Australia at the end of the season as well.
“It’s going to take a bigger squad than 31 to get through it all, so it would be nice to be back in a white shirt and there’s a Lions tour in 2017 as well, which is a feather I want in my cap before I finish.”
Saints ended last season without a trophy, but Foden, 30, is confident that a summer recruitment drive which has seen the arrival of JJ Hanrahan, Kieran Brookes, Michael Paterson, Paul Hill and Jamie Gibson will boost their chances.
He said: “We’re strong in all positions now and only having three guys away with England, which is madness really, means we’ll start well.
“We had a good season topping the Premiership for the first time, but the knock-out part can be a bit hit and miss and we suffered injuries at the wrong time.
“The season wasn’t a success in terms of winning silverware, but we saw it as a good step forward and if we can finish in the top two and earn a home semi-final, I’m sure we’ll have the squad to get the results we want.
“England’s loss is our gain at Saints and guys like Luther Burrell, Dylan Hartley, Lee Dickson, Stephen Myler and myself will be out to prove our points.”
Foden admits England’s decision to omit Burrell, who scored twice in the victory over Saracens, still baffles him, adding: “I thought Luther would be England’s starting No.12. His combination with Jonathan Joseph during the Six Nations was tried and trusted. I think England have missed him.”
NEALE HARVEY