David Forde says he is firmly on course to complete the likely Irish line up for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier in training this morning with the 34-year-old set to take a full part after working by himself yesterday then leaving early to have treatment on a calf strain.
The rest of Giovanni Trapattoni’s starting 11 appeared to take shape in the end of session game yesterday with Sean St Ledger partnering John O’Shea in the centre of a defence, Seamus Coleman and Marc Wilson on either side, Wes Hoolahan alongside Glenn Whelan in a midfield that was completed by Simon Cox and Aiden McGeady on the wings while Jonathan Walters played alongside Robbie Keane up front.
It’s a selection that would leave the likes of Richard Dunne, who came on for half an hour against Georgia, James McClean, who set up two of Ireland’s four goals on Sunday, and Richard Keogh who scored one of them, sitting on the bench. None would be especially surprised to be omitted, one suspects however.
St Ledger limped back into the hotel yesterday with a painful blister but that’s not regarded as being any threat to his place. O’Shea, Wilson and Whelan, meanwhile, have nursed knocks sufficiently well through the week to ensure that they will be available to start. That, acknowledged goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly afterwards, just leaves Forde.
"The main player would be David Forde alright," he said, "but I asked him directly after the session and he said he is fine, that he feels good and we are looking at him taking part in the full session tomorrow. In terms of a medical plan from where he was to where he is now everyone is very happy."
Grown into role
Kelly spoke admiringly of the way Forde has grown into the role of Irish number one after "the journey he has been on," and it is the very fact that the Millwall goalkeeper has waited so long to achieve his current status that means it would take an awful lot to rule him out.
“The calf is very good,” Forde says in any case. “The doc and the physios did tremendous work and we’ve got it right. That was the main thing. I’m fit and ready to rock on Friday night.”
The Galwayman heads into the game off the back of a big performance at Wembley where two late saves kept Ireland level and underlined his status as a worthy successor to long-time number one Shay Given after a career that has involved more than its share of setbacks.
"It's been a massive journey," he admits, "phenomenal really; like a dream as such. All of a sudden, I've got an opportunity and I'm representing my country in a World Cup qualifier. It's something I'm really enjoying. It's a fantastic challenge but one I feel I'm prepared and ready for.'
Get established
"I'm still trying to keep my head down and establish myself," he adds however. You come into a job and you always have to find your feet and work your way into it. It's the same at club level and it's no different here.
“There are new surroundings and a lot of expectation but the more you play in these games . . . not the easier it comes, but the more accustomed you become to it.”
