HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON has warned Caoimhín Kelleher that he can no longer take his status as Ireland no 1 for granted.
Kelleher has played every minute of every game for Ireland since Hallgrímsson took over.
With Gavin Bazunu injured and Mark Travers out of favour at Bournemouth, the Cork man got the nod for the Icelander’s first game in charge, against England in September.
The Liverpool keeper has been largely reliable with his one high-profile error, against Greece in Piraeus, coming after he had already been selected as Ireland’s player of the match.
But Bazunu is back fit again and both he and Travers are playing regularly after making loan moves during the recent transfer window whilst Kelleher has reverted to second choice at Anfield following Alisson’s return from injury.
Max O’Leary – who is not in this squad – is also first choice for Bristol City.
And – ahead of tonight’s first leg of the Nations League play-off against Bulgaria – Hallgrímsson said: “I think it just puts more pressure on everyone, and Caoimhín in particular, to have them playing day-in, day-out.
“Max is playing every game for Bristol City now and Trav is playing every game for Middlesbrough and Gavin is starting to play every game for Standard Liege.
“So it’s probably the position that we have the in-form players in.
“I don’t think many national teams have four as good goalkeepers as we have so it’s a big, big competition between them looking forward but we are reaching that position.”
Asked if Kelleher had given him any reason to make a change for the relegation-promotion decider, Hallgrímsson said: “We’ll see tonight.”
Hallgrímsson also has a decision to make at the other end of the pitch with Evan Ferguson getting just 92 minutes – all of the bench – in his five games since joining West Ham on loan from Brighton.
Being reunited with his former Seagulls boss Graham Potter has not gone according to plan, yet at least, although he is said to be keen to sign the Meath man on a permanent basis.
But Hallgrímsson thinks the 20-year-old is in good enough condition to lead the line if required.
He said: “I believe he can start. If he will, we will see. But I believe he can start. If he can do 90 minutes, we need to see that.
“Obviously like all coaches, not only national team coaches, you like to have your players playing day-in, day-out, so I’m a little disappointed he hasn’t played more minutes after changing clubs but his time will come for sure.
“But there is a lot of match fitness in the team at this stage, better than in the past two or three camps. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
