It's a friendly, the week after the end of a season. Right about now is when we would usually be hearing about club's recalling their players because of calf strains or ankle 'knocks' or split ends.
And chances are, before the end of the week we'll probably see it again. Which is not to say there'll be anything untoward when/if it does happen. It's been a long season, players are tired, they've been playing through the pain barrier to get to the end of the season. We fully accept that it's a feature of international football.
Wes Hoolahan is having none of it though. The Norwich midfielder is a big doubt for this weekend's clash with England with a knee injury and, unsurprisingly, his club want him back for treatment after their play-off final victory. However, Martin O'Neill has confirmed that Hoolahan is going against Norwich's wishes and is hoping to play apart on Sunday.
Wes wants to play the games, which is great for us. His issue is he's carrying a little injury for a while. I think it's the back of knee, to do with the tendon.
There was a possibility Norwich wanted him not to play in the games (against England and Scotland), to get himself right in the summertime but Wes thankfully has left that out of the equation.
It would be entirely reasonable for Hoolahan to forego the England game in an attempt to be fully fit for Scotland at least, but the fact that he's willing to go against his club's wishes for a friendly really is certainly interesting to see.
