International Break…clinging to straws.

International breaks are about as exciting as test cricket (don’t argue), and so I’ve managed to miss an entire week, and failed to cover no events in that time.
The most interesting event over an internationals weekend is the international games and the BFC players who feature in them. So, without delay:

Jay McEveley caused a happy surprise mid-last week when, following two injuries, Scotland called the left back up to their squad. This was great to see because in his first interview at Oakwell, Jay said his personnel aim at Barnsley was to break into the Scotland squad.

Naturally, he didn’t play and spent 90 minutes watching his nation draw 0-0 with Lithuania. He’s also unlikely to play the mid week game, but just being in the squad gives him a chance to impress Craig Levein. I’ll be following his national progress, and am happy to see him play, as long as there are no injuries picked up. After all, he’s our only left back at the moment.

Here’s the highlights, fellow Englishmen may enjoy cheering all the Scotland missed chances.

Iain Hume may still be plagued with speculation in England, but that hasn’t stopped him from travelling over the pond to join his Canadian teammates.

On Saturday he came on in the 63rd minute in a friendly against Peru. Canada lost the game 2-0, however they made 10 substitutions. I think it’s hard to say that Hume is really part of the Canadian national team on this game, and with prospects of football in Yorkshire looking narrow, I don’t see that changing.

Here’s the highlights, featuring two stylish Peru goals.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Aqr7WM9L8

Two may seem to be a low number, but we also have players like O’Brien, who hopes to break in soon, and Arismendi, who used to be in the squad, and with success could feature again. Then there’s Jamil Adam playing youth football for Ireland.

Of course, the debate will also remain over whether having nationally selected players is actually a good thing. They get experience, high level math practice, and it brings prestige to our club. The counter is that there is the chance of injury.

Wherever you stand on that, it’s surely obvious to support our players once they have been selected, as these two were over the weekend.

There are further qualifiers and friendlies during midweek, so keep an eye out for Canada and Scotland then.

Category: Barnsley Team News