Focused Rowlands ready to seize chanceBy Brendan O’Brien
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2009
www.irishexaminer.com/sport/focused-rowlands-ready-to-seize-chance-102786.htmlIT isn’t by choice Martin Rowlands has found his name inextricably linked to that of Andy Reid’s this week but that is exactly the situation in which the QPR midfielder finds himself just now.
Interestingly, Rowlands earned two of his three caps when coming on as a substitute for the Sunderland man back in 2004 but it is Giovanni Trapattoni’s decision to call him up ahead of the Dubliner this week that is causing all the comment.
"There’s no pressure on me," he said. "Andy is a good player and a good lad. I know him from previous squads but that’s nothing to do with me, what is happening between the FAI and Andy. It’s not on my agenda."
Such a sidestep was hardly a surprise but the same can hardly be said of his elevation to active duty, five years after his last cap and eight months after his last involvement with the senior set-up, which was for the home tie against Georgia.
‘Involvement’ probably isn’t the right word. Though he was called into the panel, Rowlands was ruled out the next day thanks to a cruciate injury – a cruel repeat of past misfortunes.
In May the previous year, the signs were that he would start the friendly against Serbia, Trapattoni’s first in charge, but he was denied his big chance by another injury with a wicked sense of timing.
Trapattoni handed a first start to Glenn Whelan in his absence that day. The rest, as they say, is history but Rowlands doesn’t appear the type to wonder what might have been.
"Glenn played and has done really well. That’s the past and there’s no point in dwelling on things like that. It’s gone and you have to look into the future and hopefully affect that.
"If I sit and dwell on the past then I don’t think you look forward focused enough. That’s gone. I’ve always reoptimistic. I haven’t made an appearance for I think five or six years, so I’ve always been optimistic."
There have been other frustrations.
First capped under Brian Kerr in the summer of 2004, he played three times in the space of two weeks and then disappeared. Kerr, it seemed, no longer rated him and neither did his successor Steve Staunton.
So, what happened?
"I don’t know. There was a few people not in those squads at the time, established people. I went on that trip and thought I did okay but more senior players came back when they were fit and were in the next squads. I don’t look back and think ‘what if’ and ‘why not’. I’m just looking forward and hoping to make an impression in these eight, nine, 10 days."
He may have joined the squad late but his chances of being involved at some stage against Italy and Montenegro aren’t half bad with Steven Reid and Darron Gibson both unavailable.
Add in the fact that both Whelan and Keith Andrews are one yellow card away from a one-match suspension and Rowlands could be forgiven for looking ahead to Wednesday’s game against the Balkan side.
"There’s always a chance, if you are in the squad, that you can start or be involved off the bench. Those lads are obviously injured and weren’t able to make it and that gives an opportunity to somebody else.
"Whether that be me or somebody else, I’m sure someone will take it."
He won’t have to look far for inspiration. Whelan’s rise to international prominence has been spectacular in its own right but that of Keith Andrews, who made his debut aged 28, has made for an even better story.
"I don’t think age matters," said the 30-year old Rowlands.
"You look at people like Ryan Giggs who are possibly playing their best football at the age of 35, 36. As long as you feel fit and you’re playing well age is no real matter. Hopefully I’ve still got some good years ahead of me."
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Read more:
www.irishexaminer.com/sport/focused-rowlands-ready-to-seize-chance-102786.html#ixzz0TEDVqGQW
