Forde in pole position to be Ireland’s number one

David Forde has leapfrogged Keiren Westwood in the competition to succeed Shay Given as Ireland’s number one.

Having informed Given that he will effectively call on him only in an emergency, Giovanni Trapattoni has now decided that, as things currently stand, Millwall’s Forde is better placed than Sunderland’s Westwood to fill the boots of the Donegal legend.

Not only is Forde in line to play against Poland this week, but the manager answered in the affirmative when asked if the Galwegian would also start were Ireland playing against Sweden in their World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.