Onwards and upwards

It’s often said that a week is a long time in football, and I can honestly say the last week or so has been as hectic as any I’ve experienced as a player.

It started off with me losing my club manager at Bolton, Owen Coyle, who had only signed me in the summer. Then there was the demoralising result against the Germans at the Aviva and the mass negativity and uncertainty about Mr Trapattoni’s future, not to mention a tricky trip to the Faroe Islands.

There’s no doubt in my mind the game against the Faroes on Tuesday was a very pivotal one in the boss’s reign. He was a class act in the build up to that match, showing great leadership by trying to take all the blame off the players and lifting spirits around the hotel and in training.