Former Manchester United player Quinton Fortune backs Lyle Foster to rediscover his best form

Former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune has backed South Africa international Lyle Foster to rediscover the form that convinced Burnley to sign him, insisting the striker’s biggest issue at the moment appears to be a lack of confidence.

Fortune believes Foster still possesses the quality that made him an attractive signing for Burnley and is confident the forward can return to his best once he regains his confidence.

The former Bafana Bafana midfielder was particularly disappointed not to see Foster make the impact expected of him during the recent World Cup, having hoped the Burnley forward would use his Premier League experience to lead South Africa’s attack.

“I hope he will come back stronger for South Africa after this World Cup because I was looking forward to watching Lyle, thinking he can bring that experience of being a Premier League player to lead the team because so much is expected from him,” Fortune told Premier Bet, per Burnley Express.

Fortune feels Foster’s struggles should not be viewed as a reflection of his ability, suggesting that confidence can have a major influence on a player’s performances, particularly when expectations are high.

“I think for Lyle it’s probably just a lack of confidence and every player goes through that, but I was really rooting for him during the World Cup given the prospect of having Lyle up front.”

The former Manchester United player also pointed to Foster’s move to Burnley as evidence of the qualities he possesses, arguing that former manager Vincent Kompany would not have brought him to the club without seeing significant potential in the South African.

“He must have something to him because otherwise why would Vincent Kompany have brought him to Burnley? I just think he’s a player going through a difficult time and he probably just needs an arm around the shoulder. He needs support.”

Foster’s journey in European football has not always been straightforward, and Fortune believes adapting to life away from home can be particularly challenging for African players who make the move to Europe later in their development.

The former South African international reflected on his own experience of moving to Europe at a young age and explained how his circumstances differed from those of players who leave home much later.

“I was lucky when I came over to Europe, I was 14. Everything for me seemed like an adventure. These guys like Lyle are probably having a tough time. They left home later so it might be a little bit harder for them to adapt, but the quality is there.”

Fortune’s comments underline his belief that Foster’s current difficulties are temporary rather than an indication that the striker lacks the ability to perform at the highest level.

With the right support and a renewed sense of confidence, Fortune believes the Burnley forward can rediscover the qualities that earned him his move to England and once again become an important figure for both club and country.