FRASER FORSTER is hoping to make an emotional return to Celtic Park tomorrow – and has warned his England team-mates to get ready for an atmosphere they will not have experienced before.

With Joe Hart having been released to return to Manchester City, Hexham-born Forster is set to win his third international cap in tomorrow’s friendly with Scotland, with Roy Hodgson expected to select him in the starting line-up ahead of West Brom’s Ben Foster.

Forster spent four seasons with Celtic, two of which were on loan, after graduating through Newcastle United’s academy, and having moved to Southampton in the summer, the 26-year-old cannot wait to return to Glasgow’s East End.

However, after experiencing a packed Parkhead during Champions League matches against the likes of Barcelona and Old Firm games with Rangers, Forster is under no illusions about the bear-pit atmosphere that will greet England’s players tomorrow.

England’s first outing on Scottish soil since 1999 was always going to have a considerable edge, but the staging of the game at Celtic Park is set to heighten the emotional tumult even further, with Friday’s qualifier against the Republic of Ireland having established a deafening precedent.

“It would be a fantastic opportunity if it’s me that gets to play,” said Forster, who was an unused substitute on Saturday as England moved six points clear at the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group with a 3-1 win over Slovenia. “It’ll be a fantastic atmosphere, and to play in an England vs Scotland game would be a dream come true.

“It’s always an unbelievable atmosphere (at Celtic Park). I’ve been fortunate enough to sample it at club level, and even the Barcelona players came out and said it’s the best atmosphere they’ve ever experienced after they played there in the Champions League.

“It’s a fantastic stadium, and it’s quite tight as well so I’m sure it will be really loud. It should just be the making of a fantastic game.”

Forster will not be the only North-Easterner hoping to impress tomorrow as Teessider Stewart Downing is also set to feature, two-and-a-half years after winning the last of his 34 international caps against Norway.

Downing has reinvented himself as a central midfielder with West Ham United this season, and Hodgson is keen to see the 30-year-old in his new role in international colours.

He was unavailable for the Slovenia game after picking up a knock in training last week, but will take part in a full training session later today and has been primed to feature in at least some of tomorrow night’s derby.

“Stewart injured his knee slightly in a training accident on Thursday,” said Hodgson. “We thought, and he thought, that he was going to be okay on Saturday, but when he started the warm-up he still felt it.

“We didn't take him off the bench, but he wasn't available to use. But I do believe he'll be available to use against Scotland and that's good news because I would like to see him in an England shirt at some stage during the game.”

With Jordan Henderson also hoping to retain his place after featuring against Slovenia, tomorrow’s game will have more North-East interest than usual, although it is easy to overlook Forster’s regional roots given that he did not make a single senior appearance in a Newcastle shirt.

He emerged at a time when Tim Krul and Steve Harper were vying for the goalkeeper’s jersey at St James’, and was never going to accept being the third-choice shot-stopper after sampling the Champions League environment while on loan at Celtic.

Newcastle received around £2m for his services, but he went for five times that when he moved to Southampton in the summer, and his performances this season have been a key factor in the Saints’ stunning rise to second place in the table.

He has conceded just five league goals this season, fewer than any other regular keeper at any team in the top four divisions, and is likely to provide Hart with his sternest competition over the next few years.

“As kid, if anyone had said to you that you’d be in the England squad, you’d be absolutely delighted with that,” said the former Newcastle Grammar School pupil. “It’s fantastic to be a part of it.

“Joe is a top, top keeper and I know that because I see him training every day that we’re here. We’ve got a fantastic group – me, Joe and Ben get on really well and work really hard. I think we bring the best out of each other. We’ve got a great group and we just want to see each other do well.”