Ireland top priority for Keiren Westwood in three-way race to be number one

Keiren Westwood’s body language said it all. With 70 minutes played at Turner’s Cross on Tuesday, and David Forde given the nod to replace Shay Given in goal, it looked like the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper’s chances of booking passage to France had come and gone without him even donning the gloves.

Superb again for the Yorkshire club despite their Championship play-off final defeat to Hull City at Wembley on Saturday, he had only been with the Ireland squad for the bones of two days, and it didn’t look then like his stay would extend to three.

Westwood hung his head despondently before managing a wry smile that hinted at acceptance of an unwanted fate. He was still “keeping me head down” over an hour later when Martin O’Neill began asking the unlucky few to step outside for a quiet word.