Stoke City's Marc Wilson sets sights on Republic of Ireland return
MARC Wilson is hoping his Stoke return will give him a chance to join the Republic of Ireland's battle for Brazil.
The 25-year-old left-back expects to be available for Stoke's game at Fulham next Saturday after four months out with a broken leg.
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Stoke City's Marc Wilson
He revealed that Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has kept in touch during his injury absence, so he is hoping to force his way back into the manager's plans as Ireland try to qualify for next summer's World Cup in Brazil.
However, Ireland have their work cut out to qualify.
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They are third in their qualifying group behind leaders Germany and Sweden, and weren't helped when the Swedes fought back from 4-0 down to force a 4-4 draw in Germany in October.
Ireland are away to the Swedes in a potentially decisive qualifier on March 22 and also face England in friendly at Wembley on May 29.
Wilson, who has three senior caps, said: "I need to get myself playing for Stoke first and foremost before I can even consider being selected for Ireland.
"Giovanni Trapattoni has texted me a few times to ask how I am getting on and said he hasn't forgotten me.
"That was good to hear, so if I can get myself right here hopefully I can get myself back in the international team.
"Ireland have a difficult game coming up against Sweden. It's a crucial match because they are one point ahead of us in the group after they got that magnificent result against Germany.
"It's going to be a very important game for us and I want to get myself back for it."
Tony Pulis will be keen to have Wilson back in action because the Potters have struggled to fill the left-back spot since Wilson broke his left leg against Sunderland on October 27.
Andy Wilkinson and Geoff Cameron have both been played out of position there, but Wilson's return will allow Wilkinson, Cameron and Ryan Shotton to compete for the right-back spot.
Meanwhile, Wilson says he is in awe of Robert Huth after watching the centre-half have 28 stitches after a clash of heads in the game against Wigan last month.
Huth completed the game following the first half incident, then spent an hour being stitched up.
Wilson said: "I drove him home that night because he couldn't drive in the state he was in.
"It was one of the worst cuts of the forehead I have ever seen, he had his eyebrow split in three places.
"It was a nasty one but he didn't complain about it, just sat on the bed and got stitched up.
"All he said was 'I've got a bit of a sore head'. Then when I saw him the next morning he was okay again."
Huth showed there were no lasting effects when he powered home a header against Reading last week for his first goal of the season.
Wilson added: "It was about time he got another goal. I was really pleased for him because he is a great lad and an absolute machine."
22 Comments
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by defjamrcs
Monday, February 18 2013, 9:57PM
“what the hell is the site clown Pottersrule talking about now? lol”
by Stars-stripes
Monday, February 18 2013, 7:10PM
“There is a page about andrew Davies on Wikipedia”
by Pottersruleok
Monday, February 18 2013, 1:42PM
“I see the viscount of vitriol defjam spreads his hatred on the news pages of this fine site as well!
Here I was thinking that it was just me and mel he despises !”
by Pottedrengen
Sunday, February 17 2013, 10:55PM
“He did make a sub for Wilko against I think Man U.”
by Stars-stripes
Sunday, February 17 2013, 10:46PM
“Thank god for that, I was beginning to think we'd signed another player and not played him”
by The_Locksmith
Sunday, February 17 2013, 10:35PM
“Correction - Andrew Davies!”
by The_Locksmith
Sunday, February 17 2013, 9:02PM
“A fully fit Marc Wilson has to be excellent news, both for us and for the Republic. My boy and I were at that Sunderland game and Marc's injury was the crowning **** on a cow-pat of an otherwise forgettable game. Let us hope he makes it to Brazil.
Off topic, with a 'spare' weekend due to the Cup, I went along to Wimbledon v Bradford yesterday to have a look at the Capital Cup finalists. Mark Davies played his first game in 4 months, won everything at the back and was a pain up front at set pieces too. Did anyone ever see him play for us? - I didn't, I think. £2m wasted.”
by ro3erto
Sunday, February 17 2013, 8:26PM
“What an interesting thread.”
by Pottersruleok
Sunday, February 17 2013, 7:26PM
“Defjam, since you are the newly crowned king of abuse, having taken thecrown from the original king Johnson, that is high praise indeed”
by defjamrcs
Sunday, February 17 2013, 6:31PM
“i had to read that twice Potterfool. You saying we need psychiatric assessment. YOU!
Jeez i have really seen it all now. And you're denying something that has been seen by a lot of people on here.
you are the most deluded strange person i believe i have ever encountered”