STEPHEN HENDERSON TODAY received his first call-up to Ireland’s senior squad.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper replaces Keiren Westwood, who is ruled out with a wrist injury, and will link up with Giovanni Trapattoni’s team for the remaining preparations before Wednesday’s friendly game with the Czech Republic at the Aviva Stadium.
Dubliner Henderson began his career in English football with Aston Villa but hadn’t broken into the first team when he left the Midlanders for Bristol City in 2007. A string of loan spells were followed by a switch to Portsmouth last summer, and he has made 25 appearances so far this season for the Npower Championship club.
An U21 international, he comes from a family with strong roots in football as he is the son of former Waterford United manager, Stephen Senior. His uncle Wayne has seven caps for Ireland and is on the books at Preston North End, while his grandfather played in the League of Ireland during the 1960s.
Westwood’s withdrawal will see Millwall stopper David Forde step up to become Shay Given’s first replacement and Henderson now fills the third choice spot. He kept a clean sheet in Pompey’s 0-0 draw with Leeds at Fratton Park on Saturday and you can watch highlights of his performance below:
YouTube credit: weareleedsmot2
