Focused Rowlands ready to seize chance

IT isn’t by choice Martin Rowlands has found his name inextricably linked to that of Andy Reid’s this week but that is exactly the situation in which the QPR midfielder finds himself just now.

Interestingly, Rowlands earned two of his three caps when coming on as a substitute for the Sunderland man back in 2004 but it is Giovanni Trapattoni’s decision to call him up ahead of the Dubliner this week that is causing all the comment.

“There’s no pressure on me,” he said. “Andy is a good player and a good lad. I know him from previous squads but that’s nothing to do with me, what is happening between the FAI and Andy. It’s not on my agenda.”