TWTD understands that Town scouts have been regular visitors to Dublin to watch St Patrick’s Athletic in action this season with 20-year-old winger Chris Forrester the reason for their trips. St Patrick’s play in Ireland’s Airtricity League Premier Division, which runs through the summer.
Dubliner Forrester played schoolboy football with local sides Smithfield, Bohemians and Belvedere, with whom he won the FAI Umbro U17 Cup in 2010.
He returned to Bohemians and made his first senior appearances during the 2011 campaign when he quickly established himself in the team and won the club’s Young Player of the Year award.
The 5ft 11in tall right-sided midfielder impressed enough to spend time on trial at Wolves, where Town boss Mick McCarthy was then manager, and also Watford.
Forrester moved to St Patrick’s in January 2012, signing a two-year contract, and won the PFAI Young Player of the Year award and his club’s Young Player of the Year gong in his first season at Richmond Park.
He also won the Saints’ Goal of the Season award for a lob scored against Shamrock Rovers, far from the only notable strike on his CV.
Last season Forrester netted nine goals in 39 games and this year he has so far scored five in 16. In January he won his first call into the Irish U21s and has now won two caps.