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Forde focused on his international future

The Milwall shotstopper is determined to push Keiren Westwood in the battle for Shay Given’s old jersey.

DAVID FORDE IS committed to stay and fight for a chance to fill Shay Given’s gloves as the new Ireland number one.

Sunderland’s Keiren Westwood has stepped in between the sticks since Given called time on his international career and retired as Ireland’s most-capped player with 125 appearances.

But Millwall keeper Forde and Darren Randolph of Motherwell are patiently waiting in the wings, ready to seize their chance when it comes.

“With Shay leaving, it does leave an opportunity,” Forde, 33, says. “Obviously Keiren’s got the shirt at the moment and it gives myself and Darren an opportunity to give it a go.

“All you can do is when you do get a chance, you perform and do your best.”

While Forde and Randolph are playing regularly at club level, Westwood has struggled to dislodge Simon Mignolet and has only played three times for Sunderland in the Capital One Cup this season.

It’s unusual for a keeper who spends the bulk of his time on the bench to be first-choice for his country but Forde is happy to keep working to change Giovanni Trapattoni’s mind.

“We’re here for the cause and to play for your country. At the end of the day, we want whatever’s best and whatever gets us the result.

“That’s the manager’s doing. All me and Darren can do is do what we do at club level, and do what we do when we come in here and train.

“It’s how we interpret it. Kieren has done fantastic since he has come into the side so it’s one of them where we all get behind each other and help each other out.”

While other fringe players like Kevin Foley and Darren Gibson have taken a self-imposed international break in frustration at the lack of international opportunities, Forde still sees it as an honour to be involved with the squad.

It’s a big commitment, he says, but he’s more than willing to answer his country’s call.

“Everybody is different. It’s your own personal feeling really. I waited long enough to get into the side so it’s a big honour for me when I do get called up that I do turn up.

“To be fair, last season at club level, it did affect me when I first got into the side. You see players who down through the years have retired from international level due to the level of commitment and you always wonder why is that.

“Then when you get involved, you realise the amount of travel and the intensity of training where [other] lads are getting three or four days off and getting rest and recovery. I had to deal and learn how to cope with that as well.”

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