Mixu turned air blue at Hibs’ Forster snub

MIXU PAATELAINEN was Hibernian manager when a young Fraser Forster caught his eye during a youth match between Newcastle and Manchester United. The Finn was so impressed by the Magpies’ giant goalkeeper he pointed him out to the scout sitting next to him. Ian Brown had to reluctantly inform Paatelainen that the Easter Road club had already turned him down. ‘He let out about five expletives,’ recalled Brown, who had been a scout for Hibs and manager of Wallsend Boys’ Club when he first came across a teenage Forster playing for Newburn FC some 13 years ago. He coached him for a season at WBC, the same youth team where Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley and Michael Carrick were developed, before sending him for a two-week trial to the Edinburgh club. Forster was told by a coach there he would never make it as a keeper because he was ‘technically untrained’. Paatelainen won’t have been the only person to slap his forehead in disbelief, then, as Forster subsequently made his name at Celtic and now Southampton. Tonight he will get his chance to start for England against Holland in the absence of the injured Joe Hart and Jack Butland, and is within a rival’s hamstring tear or ruptured knee of representing Roy Hodgson’s side in France at Euro 2016. Butland’s broken ankle has ruled him out of the tournament and Hart is expected to be back soon, but any further problems and the gloves will pass to Forster (right). They had better be large ones. ‘I’d never seen a 15-year-old that size,’ recalled Brown of the first time he set eyes on Forster. ‘His hands were like shovels. He was massive. ‘He was, and is, an amazing shotstopper. ‘His kicking wasn’t very good back then and he wasn’t great at getting around the box. He was very shy, very quiet, but a lovely lad, very witty. ‘He was very popular with team-mates, very likeable. ‘He played in the same team as my son that year. He was a bit like the skinny one out of Laurel and Hardy. ‘A bit forgetful — he forgot his gloves on a few occasions. A bit of a day dreamer. ‘It was a big shock to him at first moving to Newcastle but his ability took over,’ said Brown. ‘He grew with it. He had a natural presence in goal. When players in the opposite team saw him, they said: “How are we going to beat him?’” Hibs’ loss was initially Newcastle’s gain but they eventually let him go, too. First, on loan to Stockport County, Bristol Rovers and Norwich, before two temporary spells at Celtic led to a permanent move to Parkhead. The high point, of course, was a commanding performance in the 2-1 Champions League win over Barcelona in Glasgow which saw the Spanish press dub him ‘The Great Wall’. His return south was only a matter of time and Celtic sold him to Southampton for £10million in 2014. Forster hasn’t looked back since. Now, not long after returning from 10 months out through injury, the 28-year-old is starting for his country at Wembley. Saints boss Ronald Koeman has already hailed Forster’s swift return to form as magic. There is certainly something special about those giant hands.