Gokhan Inler ‘must force way’ into Leicester team

Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic has told skipper Gokhan Inler he must force his way into Leicester’s title-chasing team if he wants to go to the Euro 2016 finals.

The 31-year-old midfielder will play no part against either the Republic of Ireland or Bosnia in his country’s friendlies over the Easter weekend after being left out of the squad for the first time in 10 years.

Inler has fallen from grace after making just 10 appearances and only three Premier League starts for the Foxes following his £5m summer arrival from Napoli, and with Claudio Ranieri’s men five points clear at the top of the table, the chances of him breaking into the side look remote.

However, that is the challenge from Petkovic. He said: “It was not an easy decision to leave out a player with 90 caps, but it was a decision of the moment and it was a decision taken by me for the benefit of the team.

“I spoke to Gokhan about this and a lot of people in the club as well, and they all know if the situation changes, if he plays more than he has been doing recently, there is still a possibility he will join the team again.

“This is not only for Gokhan Inler, that is the idea for any other player. I want them to make it difficult for me to make decisions for Euro 2016.

“If Inler is in full shape, he can contribute a lot to the team and all the players have got used to having him around.

“But there is always a chance for other players to show themselves and to take over part of his role. That’s how football goes.”

Asked if Inler regretted his decision to join Leicester, Petkovic added: “It’s not important to look back.

“At this moment, he needs to focus on tomorrow and on today. You have to do today everything you can to be better tomorrow, and that’s what’s important for Gokhan Inler right now.”

The Swiss, who qualified as distant runners-up to England in Group E, will start their preparations in Dublin tonight, and Petkovic, who will be without injured Stoke midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, knows exactly what to expect from Martin O’Neill’s men.

He said: “I have told my team about 15 times that against Ireland there are no friendlies, so it will be a tough night, but we have to go out and show our qualities.”