Ben Foster knows a thing or two about the pressures which come from being billed as a star of the future.

The Watford stopper was repeatedly touted as an England number one in the making as he made strides at the very top level with Manchester United and while on loan at the Hornets.

Ultimately only eight England caps, which Foster concedes he has little chance of adding to due to the plethora of goalkeeping talent at Gareth Southgate’s disposal followed, but his promise from an early age is still impossible to doubt.

Winning the Player of the Season award aged just 24 while at Watford is evidence enough of the quality Foster had to offer.

It is, therefore, worth taking note when the summer arrival speaks of the talent possessed by Pontus Dahlberg, who at 19 is just embarking on his journey.

The Swede has been the subject of glowing appraisals and is tipped to go to the very highest reaches of the game - an opinion Foster shares.

“He is brilliant,” the 35-year-old said. “Pontus has a massive chance, a really, really good chance.

“He has the technical ability and somebody like Pontus just needs to play games now.

“As a goalkeeper he is brilliant and I was nowhere near as good as him When I was 19. I was going out on loan to Stafford Rangers.

“Couple his quality with the fact he is super professional, and it is nice to see.”

The appetite for work which Foster speaks so highly of will only stand Dahlberg in good stead as he looks to develop his game.

Foster has been surprised by the teenager’s maturity in the short time he has spent with him and was quick to praise the former IFK Gothenburg man’s temperament.

He said: “I still don’t believe he is 19, he has got to be about 28 because he is an absolute mountain of a man already. He has an old head on his shoulders and is really mature for his age.”

Such a grown up approach can, Foster believes, only aid Dahlberg’s development and Watford’s first choice keeper says the 6ft 4in stopper is eager to learn.

He will benefit from doing so under two keepers who have plenty of experience to impart on their young understudy in the form of Foster and back-up stopper Heurelho Gomes.

The pair have 914 club appearances between them to their name and are a font of knowledge when it comes to the demands of being a keeper in England’s top flight.

Helping Dahlberg develop is a task Foster is happy to play a role in, especially considering he and Gomes have such a willing student to educate.

“Without a doubt we can help him. Pontus is a great kid and asks loads of questions anyway so you know you can help,” the former West Bromwich Albion keeper said.

“When you tell him stuff you know [he is listening]. A lot of kids are like ‘yeah whatever’ and think they know best at 19 or 20 years old.

“He is such a good kid, wants to know more and will listen. I am more than happy to help him and Gomey is as well.”

Dahlberg is likely to have to bide his time to feature between the sticks for Watford with Foster and Gomes ahead of him in the pecking order and Premier League opportunities may not arrive this season.

For Foster, though, the league games will continue to come thick and fast after the international break, starting with the visit of his former employers Manchester United next Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm).