For players, it’s about the next game not the end game
First, though, a few words about my own situation, having to look in from the outside. Too often when players get left out of squads they react negatively and give into the temptation to shoot their mouths off rather than having a good look in the mirror. So, as much as I was hurting watching the match on Friday — knowing I could have influenced it — I still find it hard to condemn a manager who, for a long period of time, showed great faith in me and gave me the honour of representing my country when there’d been a time when I thought that maybe I never would.
However, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was devastated not to be involved in games of the magnitude of these two. I gave up my summer holidays to go at my own expense to Qatar for six weeks’ rehab on my Achilles injury to ensure I was fit for pre-season training but also with one eye always firmly fixed on getting ready for these two qualifiers. I feel that I’ve never let the manager down and always given absolutely everything in the green shirt, quite often putting country before club. So, to have not even been contacted by him when he knows I’m fit and available for selection has hurt. I’m really not sure how I’ve gone from his first-choice selection to not even being in the squad. Even Glenn Whelan pulling out after Saturday night due to injury didn’t warrant my call-up for this crucial match.
