Theoklitos, the 2007-08 A-League Goalkeeper Of The Year, had a nightmare first match with the Canaries earlier in August as the team crashed 7-1 at home in their opening game of the season, a loss which precipitated the departure of manager Brian Gunn, who had signed the 28-year-old as a free agent in the off-season.

New manager Paul Lambert had relegated Theoklitos to third-choice stopper in recent games and any hopes of another appearance for the Australian have been scuppered by Lambert's decision to bring Forster to the club.

Lambert has left the door open for Theoklitos to pursue opportunities elsewhere, but is happy if he wants to remain at the club and fight for a place.

"Michael's been great round about the place." Lambert told Vitalfootball over the weekend. "I never had an ounce of a problem. But my job is to make this club as strong as it can be.

"I spoke to him when I first came in and when I put Declan (Rudd) on the bench against Wycombe, I had a chat with Michael beforehand.

"It's just when people come in in your position, you tend to think 'I am 15th in line' so it's up to you to fight to get into it."

Lambert was the Colchester boss when Theoklitos played his only game for the Canaries.

"From what I've seen in training he's been fine," he added. "The Colchester game doesn't matter to me one bit, because I wasn't part of Norwich at that time and I never knew Michael.

"You tend not to pay too much attention to the opposition."

Forster started as Norwich defeated Hartlepool 2-0 away on Saturday, moving the Canaries up to 10th on the table having taken seven points in four matches since the Colchester debacle.