Fraser Forster’s coach celebrates goalie’s England call-up

Stevie Woods has a claim to be Britain’s proudest man.

It’s a day shy of a week since he discovered Fraser Forster was going to Brazil

The keeper becomes the first-ever Celtic player to be included in an England World Cup squad.

A massive reason for the 26-year-old’s selection in Roy Hodgson’s squad is the improvement he has shown with the Hoops.

That’s down to Celtic’s goalkeeping coach Woods, who admits he is proud as punch at Forster making Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad.

“I probably know better than anyone how hard Fraser has worked to get to this stage,” says Woods.

“You don’t get where he is on natural ability alone. It’s no fluke that he is performing at the level where the England management feel he deserved to be in their squad.

“In order to get there, he has had to work his backside off. When you are a goalkeeping coach, there is no better feeling in the world than working with someone who just wants to get better.

“Believe me, ever since the first day he came to the club on loan from Newcastle United, Fraser’s main aim, along with wanting to help the team be successful, has been to improve.

“Ask Neil Lennon or any of the players at Celtic. He’s one of the first players through the gates at Lennoxtown every morning and he is one of the last to leave.

“There are times when I’ve practically had to drag him off the training pitch and with the size of him that certainly isn’t an easy thing to do!”

Woods has always enjoyed a fantastic working relationship with Forster throughout his initial two loan spells from St James’ Park before a £2.2m transfer made it a permanent arrangement in 2012.

And because of that closeness, it made for a nerve-wracking Monday morning for the goalie guru as he waited for England’s squad to be announced and an explosion of joy as he celebrated his man’s inclusion.

“Pride is probably the best way to describe my emotions at seeing Fraser being included in the squad,” says Woods.

“I’m absolutely thrilled for him. I know how badly he wanted it.

“Put it this way, I’d have been devastated for him if he hadn’t made the cut, and I know it would have been a really sore one for him to take after putting so much into it.

“There was no heads-up from the English FA. So it was a case of sitting watching the draw live on TV like everyone else.

“I was at the Scottish Football Writers’ Player of the Year dinner the night before, and if everyone who asked me if Fraser was in the squad had bought me a drink, then my night would have been so much better!

“There has been so much speculation as to who would and who wouldn’t make the squad, and Twitter was obviously going mad in the minutes leading up to the squad announcement.

“But when Fraser’s name came up, I was completely ecstatic and was punching the air with joy.

“Fraser is such a laid back guy. Honestly, nothing ever seems to fluster him. So I’m sure his reaction was probably a whole lot more reserved than mine, although I know he is bursting with pride.

“I called him up shortly afterwards and he was delighted. I’m sure he had so many emotions going on at the same time possibly sheer joy and also relief being the main ones.

“It’s a huge thing to go to the World Cup Finals with your country, and it is great recognition for Celtic as well.”

There was speculation Forster would miss out on the squad because Hodgson didn’t rate the standard of the Scottish Premiership.

With Joe Hart confirmed as England’s No.1, there was a three-way battle for two positions between Forster, West Brom’s Ben Foster and Norwich City’s John Ruddy.

As it transpired, it was the latter who missed out, but Woods is convinced his man’s displays in the Champions League played a vital role in his successful bid.

“The Champions League is the highest level you can operate at outwith of international level,” says the former Motherwell shot-stopper.

“Fraser was outstanding in those matches, as he was the previous year when we reached the knock-out stage of the competition.

“You also have to factor in the clean-sheet record he set. To go 1256 minutes without conceding a goal is an outstanding achievement in any top-flight league.

“Fraser was always quick to credit his team-mates for their role in that 13-match run without losing a goal. But he made some great saves and his concentration levels were unbelievable.

“I’m pretty sure, as well as the Champions League displays, that would have helped his case.”

Forster’s one and only England appearance came in November last year when he performed well despite his country losing 2-0 to Chile at Wembley in a friendly fixture.

He’s unlikely to feature in Brazil against Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica, but the experience alone will be of huge benefit all round.

“We’ll be getting an even better player back at the start of next season,” declares Woods.

“Fraser will learn massive amounts from being involved in such a major event.

“It means he won’t have much of a break, with our Champions League qualifiers coming along almost before the season has even started. But I don’t think you’ll hear him complaining!”