The 25-year-old made his league debut for the Blues against Chelsea at the weekend and also appeared in the 4-0 Carling Cup win over Bolton and Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with APOEL in this season’s Champions League group stage.

The injuries to first-choice stopper Petr Cech and back-up Hilario mean Turnbull, who joined on a free transfer from Middlesbrough last summer, also looks set to face Jose Mourinho’s men. It will undoubtedly be the biggest night of Turnbull’s career.

However, despite Turnbull’s obvious lack of big-match experience boss Carlo Ancelotti is sure Turnbull will not let the Londoners down.

“I’m not worried. The performance of the team does not rely upon the goalkeeper. I don’t want to say we can play without a goalkeeper, because that’s an important player for the team, but I have confidence in Turnbull,” Ancelotti said.

“He has not played a lot of games this season but, with the work with our goalkeeping coach, he has improved very well.”

Czech international keeper Cech has a calf strain and is unlikely to make the Champions League last-16 second leg against Inter, while Hilario has a groin problem and he is also set for a few weeks on the sidelines.

It all points to a Turnbull appearance against Inter, while 19-year-old Rhys Taylor could be on the bench at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, the debate over who should wear the number one shirt for England during this year’s World Cup continues.

Robert Green appears to be the man in possession but there have been calls for Joe Hart to get the nod.

England’s World Cup 2010 odds make them third favourites for the competition and they will need their ‘keeper to be in top form if they are to win the tournament.

In other sports news, this year’s Cheltenham Festival races get underway tomorrow and the highlight of the meeting will be the Gold Cup clash between Kauto Star and Denman.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Turnbull to face Inter?

1: Marcus Hahnemann, USA

Hahnemann is a top class keeper and a very accomplished shot-stopper.  His displays for Wolves this season have been a shining light in their campaign and he rarely makes a mistake.  The USA should be relatively confident of progressing in the competition with Slovenia, Algeria and England in their group and Hahnemann could emerge as a star in the tournament.

2: Iker Casillas, Spain

The Real Madrid man is certainly among the best in the business and he has been playing at the top level for some time now.  Spain’s defence is a pretty mean one and they don’t allow the opposition many shots on goal, whenever an opponent does get one in Casillas is a hard man to pass and he could well be vital for Spain if they go all the way and lift the trophy.

3: Julio Cesar, Brazil

The Brazilian’s have never been particularly renowned for producing top class keepers but in Inter Milan’s Cesar they have one of the best in the business.  Cesar is a difficult man to get past and he is an excellent keeper when it comes to organising his defence.

4: Thomas Sorensen, Denmark

Sorensen fell out of favour at Aston Villa a couple of years ago but his performances for Stoke this season have been outstanding.  The likes of Arsenal and Bayern Munich have been credited with an interest recently and he is a great all round performer.  The Danish have got a pretty difficult group but with Sorensen between the sticks they stand a decent chance of progression.

5: Mark Schwarzer, Australia

Fulham keeper Schwarzer is a top class individual and one of the best in the world as far as I’m concerned.  His overall play is outstanding, in terms of commanding his box and saving shots.  He is also pretty handy when it comes to penalties, always useful at a World Cup!

Written by Carl Hector, a sports writer who blogs about Cheltenham betting, goalkeeping news and the Cheltenham gold cup.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Top Five World Cup Keepers

This first week I decided to focus on footwork, basic set positions and basic handling. One thing that was brought to my attention early on was just how many young goalkeepers lack basic footwork skill and foot speed.To begin the session (after a basic warm up) I utilized the following drills to help me in evaluating their footwork and also assess how they attack and handle the ball low to the ground. It also allowed for me to break them into the session whilst having them focus attentively on maximizing their footwork.

I’ve mentioned in some previous newsletters (which you can access by clicking here), just how important footwork is. In my opinion it forms the very platform for goalkeeping success. The above drills are some of many you can leverage to help your young goalkeeper succeed with their footwork, attacking the ball low and timing.

If you are in Sydney Australia and are looking for goalkeeper training visit the following link: Keeper Skool goalkeeper training service. Keeper skool provides a year round goalkeeper scouting tour service to europe which you can register for more information via this link.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Footwork and attacking the ball drills

When he was in charge at Manchester City Pearce bought the ‘keeper from Shrewsbury for £1.5million and his confidence in Hart’s ability is clearly undiminished.“When we first saw Joe we felt he had a lot of the attributes required to become a top goalkeeper,” said Pearce.

“He is 6ft 4in and his distribution, with both hands and feet, is fantastic.

“More than that, he has a relaxed, laid-back temperament.

“All young goalkeepers make mistakes, it is a natural part of their progression. But he has the ability to put it to the back of his mind and move on.

“That is important, especially when you play in goal. If you let a mistake get to you for 90 minutes you are going to have a problem.

“Joe is such a level-headed kid. He knows exactly where he wants to go and what he wants to be.

“At Manchester City he could just have sat on the bench behind Shay Given and picked up his money. But he said he wanted to play.”

Hart is widely expected to get the nod in goal when Fabio Capello’s men face Egypt at Wembley next week and another confident display will surely put him in contention for the England number one spot.

Hart has been in consistent form this term while on loan at Birmingham and Capello has already stated he is a big fan of the player.

Barring injury, Hart should take his place on the plane to the World Cup finals in South Africa alongside two others with Paul Robinson, David James and Robert Green the leading candidates.

Currently England’s football World Cup betting odds make them third favourites to lift the trophy.

Meanwhile, the Cheltenham betting for this year’s festival has really started to hot up and the main focus of attention has been the battle between Kauto Star and Denman in the Gold Cup.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Pearce: Joe has Hart for England job

The Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper has represented the USA six times and has done it all before with Reading.  Things didn’t look great for Hahnemann at the end of last season as he was released by the Royals but he made the switch to Wolves and hasn’t looked back.  He is capable of producing the odd moment of brilliance and is great at organising his defence, a great asset for Wolves in their fight against the drop.  The Wolves keeper has kept five clean sheets in 15 games this season since replacing Wayne Hennessey as number one, a great statistic considering the defence in front of him.

David James, Portsmouth

James is fighting for a place in England’s World Cup squad but Pompey are really struggling and look almost certain to be relegated.  That aside, the veteran is an excellent shot stopper and a very accomplished goalkeeper, I doubt he’ll have trouble finding a club when he leaves Pompey at the end of the season – another almost certainty considering their financial plight.  Despite Pompey’s struggles James has managed to keep three clean sheets in 17 games – not a bad record at all, all things considered.

Jussi Jaaskelainen, Bolton

The Bolton keeper has surely been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League for a number of seasons and regularly ensures Bolton get a result.  He may not be the best at organising the defence but as a shot stopper there really are few better.  Jaaskelainen also has a decent record at saving penalties, having denied Spurs from the spot earlier this month.  The Wanderers can’t seem to score at the moment, so the Finnish keeper is vital at the moment.  His clean sheet record is not great in truth with just four all season, although Bolton’s defending at times has been woeful and I can’t think of many occasions where Jaaskelainen was at fault.

Brian Jensen, Burnley

Affectionately known as ‘The Beast’ by the Clarets faithful, Jensen was a member of the side who won promotion from the Championship last season.  Jensen played a huge part in Burnley’s improbable win over reigning champions Manchester United earlier in the season. He saved a penalty from Michael Carrick as well as pulling off some truly outstanding stops and was named man of the match.  He is prone to the odd mistake, but with the Clarets faltering in attack he will have to be at his best to aid their relegation battle.  Jensen started the season well with two clean sheets inside the first three games but he has kept just one complete shut out since then, although Burnley’s form has declined and Jensen is perhaps not to blame for a fairly poor record.

Boaz Myhill, Hull City

American-born Welsh international Myhill is somewhat of a goalkeeping enigma.  He is occasionally capable of producing match-winning performances, defying the odds to keep a clean sheet and help Hull secure an unlikely victory.  However, he is also prone to some ridiculous errors that prove costly.  He has kept four clean sheets for Hull and one for Wales during the current campaign and can be a major player when on form for his club side.

Written by Carl Hector, a sports writer who blogs about goalkeepers, Irish racing, the Premier League and Cheltenham betting tips 2010.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Vital keepers at the wrong end of the table

Hart’s performances have led some to suggest he could well be England’s number one in South Africa this summer.  I would agree with this viewpoint personally, as Paul Robinson of Blackurn and West Ham’s Rob Green don’t exactly fill me with confidence to be brutally honest.  Portsmouth’s David James is another contender, but he has seen his season interrupted by injury and he really needs a clean run if he is to reclaim the top spot.

Despite his impressive performances for Birmingham it seems highly unlikely he will be able to usurp  Given at Eastlands next season.  The Irish star has been in exceptional form for a fairly inconsistent City side and it would take something drastic for boss Roberto Mancini to consider dropping the experienced international.  However, Hart still stands a good chance of playing regular Premier League football next season.  Birmingham admitted they made an offer for the player, which Manchester City rejected, but the Blues confirmed City would allow them to take Hart on loan again for the 2010/2011 campaign.

What has happened is that we have actually approached Manchester City with a view to buying him,” Birmingham City vice-chairman Peter Pannu revealed. “But the difficulty is that we have recognised him as a fabulous goalie and Manchester City recognises that as well.

“So they very politely rejected our approach to them to purchase him. They have said they will let him stay here for another season on loan, but he is not for sale.”

This is great news not just for Birmingham but for English fans as well.  It would have been a strange scenario had Hart been number one for the England national side at the World Cup but a number two at a club side the following season.

As a nation England has a fine reputation for producing quality keepers such as Gordon Banks, Nigel Martyn, David Seamen and Peter Shilton but lately it has been a different story.  When the likes of Scot Carson and Chris Kirkland were younger there were high hopes for the pair but Carson suffered from inconsistent form and now finds himself in the Championship with West Brom, while injury problems have blighted Kirkland’s career but he is still highly-regarded.  Without putting too much pressure on Hart I genuinely feel he has the talent and ability to make the England goalkeeper’s spot his own – and another season with Birmingham will certainly help him to progress.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer who logs about goalkeeping news, Irish racing, Premier League football and the Grand National 2010.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Blues have Hart set on Joe move

Fans and pundits have voiced their concerns over the lack of a world-class goalkeeper in the England ranks ahead of this summer’s finals in South Africa.David James has been Capello’s regular number one goalkeeper but his injury problems and up-and-down form have raised concerns over his inclusion in the squad. The veteran stopper has missed part of the season at Portsmouth with a shoulder problem and he was far from his confident best in Pompey’s 5-0 mauling at the hands of Manchester United this weekend.

However, Capello does not foresee a problem ahead of the tournament.

“I am not concerned yet with the goalkeeping situation,” said Capello.

“David James has some shoulder problems but I have Robert Green, Joe Hart and Paul Robinson.

“Hart is having a fantastic season but it is too early to choose.”

Birmingham ‘keeper Hart has been in superb form this term and the 22-year-old is certainly in the running to make the travelling party. The on-loan Manchester City star has benefitted greatly from first-team football with Alex McLeish’s side, who have been the season’s surprise package.

One man who looks unlikely to make it to South Africa is Manchester United ‘keeper Ben Foster. The 26-year-old was Sir Alex Ferguson’s first choice early in the season, but Edwin van Der Sar’s return from injury has seen the former Stoke man shunted down the pecking order and with no real prospects of first-team football a place in Capello’s 23-man party is unlikely.

England’s World Cup odds place them among the favourites for this year’s tournament, but they will struggle to make an impact without a decent goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, in horse racing news last year’s winner Mon Mome heads the list of entries for the Grand National 2010.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Capello cool over ‘keeper conundrum

Van der Sar has endured a difficult season with the champions, first breaking two fingers in a pre-season game against Bayern Munich that ruled him out for two months.

The 39-year-old then collided with Everton’s Tim Cahill in November, which sidelined him for over a month and then when he was close to a return his wife suffered a stroke and van der Sar returned to Holland on compassionate leave.

The former Ajax keeper finally returned to action earlier this month against Burnley and since then van der Sar has not conceded a Premier League goal.

He was also in goal for United’s Carling Cup semi-final games and helped the holders progress to the final – defeating Manchester City 4-3 on aggregate.

His displays, since his return, have been fautless – a fact acknowledged by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Edwin makes a big difference. I know there are a few young keepers out there doing very well but Edwin is the best in the league just now,” said Ferguson.

“It is not just his saves, it is his composure and use of the ball. It is good to have him back.”

The Dutchman’s current deal expires at the end of the season and Fergie will be hoping to persuade van der Sar to extend his contract and there can be no doubt his performances will boost Manchester United’s Premier League chances.

United do have a couple of able deputies in Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak, but if van der Sar does decide to hang up his gloves it will leave a huge void at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, the odds for the Grand National have really started to hot up and could be worth keeping an eye on.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Ferguson lauds veteran van der Sar

You would have thought if Manchester United and Wigan Athletic went for the same player there would be only one winner.   Atletico are still keen to keep hold of the youngster as well so there could even be a three-way battle for his signature if everyone steps up their interest.  He may be an Ateltico Madrid player but he is yet to agree personal terms at the Vicente Calderon and according to his agent as long as someone is willing to pay 12million euros (approx £10million/$17million).

De Gea’s agent, Hector Rincon, confirmed there had been some interest in his client, this is what he had to say:  “Some Premier League clubs have been asking for De Gea, like United and especially Wigan who made an offer Atletico rejected.

“(Wigan boss) Roberto Martinez believes that De Gea is ready for the Premier League but Atletico insist he wants to stay at the Calderon. United are also interested. I spoke to Alex Ferguson and their interest was confirmed by an intermediary.”

Sometimes agents talk purely to ensure the player they represent gets what they want.  For example, De Gea’s agent may be wrangling for higher wages from the Spanish side. However, considering the rumors surrounding Old Trafford and their search for a keeper it seems as if they are after another man to compete for the number one spot between the posts and it could indeed be De Gea they’re after.

Edwin van der Sar is 39-years-old and can’t continue at the top level forever, even if he is in fine form at the moment, while Ferguson seems to be unsure about understudies Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak.  Both have quality but perhaps haven’t performed as well as a truly top class keeper should whenever they have been handed a chance.  If United do make a move they may now wait until the summer as there isn’t much time left in the current transfer window.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer who blogs about goalkeeping news, Irish racing and Cheltenham betting tips 2010.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Manchester United target Spanish starlet

It’s a brave statement considering Reina is currently second choice to Iker Casillas in the Spain national squad, but Torres is convinced there is nobody better than the Madrid-born stopper.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper has been a huge hit on Merseyside ever since his switch from Villarreal in July 2005, and he has to be rated as one of Rafa Benitez’s best signings for Liverpool.

The Liverpool boss has come under fire for some of his acquisitions but Reina continues to produce consistent displays and the £6 million Benitez forked out has proved to be a sound investment.

With players in virtually every position under-achieving this season at Anfield, Reina has been the only one to consistently perform at a high standard for the Reds.

“Like always he’s having a really good season. For me he’s now the best ‘keeper in the world,” said Torres.

“In Spain everyone knows he’s a very good ‘keeper and in England there is no doubt he is the best.

“He’s played at a top level since he signed here and won many Golden Gloves (for the most clean sheets) – and hopefully he’ll win one more this season.

“He’s having a massive season and at Villa we won the game thanks to him.

“We must be really happy to have him in the team and hopefully he’ll be here for a long time.”

Liverpool beat Villa 1-0 over the festive period and Reina made a string of crucial saves to help secure the win which boosted Liverpool’s Champions League qualification odds.

In other sports news, the big freeze means many UK racing pundits have already been casting their eyes over this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup as they look forward to warmer weather.

Post from: Keeper Skool

Reina is the best around – Torres