ONE OF THE major selection headaches occupying Martin O’Neill’s mind over the coming months will be which three goalkeepers he brings on the plane to France.
Ireland play Sweden in their opening Euro 2016 Group E game at the Stade de France on 13 June and long before then the Derryman will have made his mind up by choosing a number one and two back-ups.
West Ham’s Darren Randolph appears to be in pole position at present having come in for Shay Given midway through the famous win over Germany, in which he set up Shane Long for the winning goal, before giving assured performances against Poland and in the two-legged play-off with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Not so long ago, it seemed inevitable that Keiren Westwood would become Ireland’s long-term keeper.
The talented Manchester native, first capped back in 2009 while making a name for himself at Coventry City, worked as Given’s understudy during the Trapattoni era and was an unused squad member at Euro 2012.
Promoted to first choice when his predecessor retired from international football immediately after that tournament, Westwood began the opening months of World Cup qualifying campaign which followed as, quite literally, the first name on the teamsheet.
By that time, he had joined Sunderland and was competing with Simon Mignolet. However, with five of his eight starts during the 2012/13 season coming in a green shirt, the then Ireland boss encouraged him to find regular football.
“For a time I was playing in the qualifiers and that coincided with me not playing for Sunderland,” Westwood told The42 this week.
“I think I played more games for the national team than I did for my club that year.
“It was down to Simon Mignolet playing great which would lead to him getting a £9 million move to Liverpool on the back of that.
“I had no complaints and I was always trying to help Simon as much as I could but it was a very frustrating year for myself and it set me back a bit.
“Trapattoni said to me that I needed to go somewhere else and play and I agreed. I tried to get out of Sunderland but they only had the two goalkeepers there with me and Simon so they couldn’t let me go, which I sort of understood as well.
I was caught between a rock and a hard place. That’s how things fell and I’ve been playing catch-up ever since.”
Although he lost his place to Millwall stopper Forde in the Ireland team, Westwood benefitted from Mignolet’s departure for Merseyside and featured in the first 10 Premier League matches of the 2012/13 campaign.
That was until a collision with Hull City’s Paul McShane (“I gave him a bit of stick for that,” he jokes) resulted in shoulder surgery and a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
In the summer of 2014, Championship side Sheffield Wednesday offered a two-year deal and the chance to start fresh. To say Westwood has made the most of that opportunity is an understatement.
After ousting Chris Kirkland, he quickly rediscovered his best form to win the club’s Player of the Year as well as being named in the Championship Team of the Year.
“To be fair I had a few points to prove to people who may have wondered how I was going to react after the shoulder operation,” he says.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sheffield Wednesday. They have looked after me from day one and have been fantastic. It’s a great club to be at.”
Despite suffering a couple of injuries this season, he has soldiered on and played 18 times already as the Owls have climbed into the play-off places under Portuguese manager Carlos Carvalhal.
It is 16 years since the club last tasted top flight football and, ahead of this afternoon’s FA Cup fourth round tie with League One strugglers Shrewsbury Town, Westwood says he has unfinished business in the Premier League.
“Everybody wants to play as high as they possibly can. When I first started out and I was playing in the Conference as a 19-year-old it was the same.
“I just thought ‘let’s see how high I can get’ and luckily for me with the hard work I’ve put in I managed to get to the top. We all want to be top of the tree and I’m no different.”
While the last of his 18 international caps was earned in last summer’s friendly with England at the Aviva Stadium, the 31-year-old still feels very much part of the group and remembers fondly the wins over Germany and Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Aviva — albeit from the sidelines.
Although there are effectively five goalkeepers vying for three spots, only Westwood and Newcastle’s Rob Elliot (in for the injured Tim Krul) are currently playing week-in week-out at their clubs and he hasn’t given up hope of making the 23.
“I’d love to be in the squad because I love being part of it and am proud to represent Ireland,” he says.
“Regardless of whether I’m in or not, it’s a really close-knit group. It’s like a family get-together when we link up, which is fantastic.
“I’m a big believer in fate and going to Sheffield Wednesday has been a turnaround for me after three years at Sunderland where I played around 25 games in total.
“At the end of the day you want to play football and if I’m doing well, it will put me on the radar to try and get into the squad for the Euros.
“I’ve been involved for the last seven years and have been in and around the squads for the last qualification campaign even if I may not have played any games.
I’m playing well so I don’t see why I wouldn’t be in with a shout. I feel fully part of the set-up and would like to think I’ll be up for consideration at least.
“To qualify was fantastic for the country, everyone involved and me included as a fan. It’s great and I’m absolutely made-up.
“Either way I’ll probably be going to France anyway. Hopefully I’ll be in the squad but if not I’ll be there dancing around with the fans!”
Whatever happens, there will be no hard feelings.
“The goalkeepers get on really well,” he adds. “Whoever plays, we get around each other and try help each other as best we can. It’s a lot different to international level because we all want to achieve something so there is no real needle or ‘he took my place’ mentality.
“This isn’t just about 23 players, it’s about the whole country and we’re all part of that regardless of whether we play, we’re on the bench, in the stands or at home.”
