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SEAN ST LEDGER really shouldn't be flying to Macedonia today. He has ample reason to be resting up at home, or on holiday. Everyone would have understood.
The Preston defender picked up a knee injury 10 weeks ago that was diagnosed at the time as being serious enough to justify a 12-week lay-off. His manager, Phil Brown, told Giovanni Trapattoni that he wouldn't be ready. The medics at Preston said it was a risk. St Ledger said he'd come over to Dublin anyway and give it a bash.
So he arrived last week when others didn't. He turned up for training and struggled, and Trapattoni promptly ruled him out. No chance. His Preston team-mate Keith Treacy seemed to confirm it.
"His knee is knackered, isn't it?" said Treacy last Thursday, before quipping, "at least he came over and showed his face."
Others had failed to do the same. Some were too tired to face it, others relied on their club to send unconvincing emails. St Ledger had his pass to leave.
But he came back for more. For that, the 26-year-old Birmingham-born centre-half -- once saddled with a 'bad boy' image -- will never have his commitment doubted by Trapattoni.
After wandering gingerly around Malahide last week, he was on the training ground at Gannon Park yesterday crunching into tackles. This was, after all, where his injuries started -- an accidental clash with Ciaran Clark back in March which ended his club season early. It was a campaign to forget anyway -- it ended with relegation from the Championship for Preston.
He will move on this summer and acknowledges that international football could put him in the shop window. Yet by the same token he risks aggravating an injury that could scare potential employers away. So, there's nothing cynical about his presence. Why go through the hassle? A simple answer.
"Because it's an honour to play for your country," he stressed. "I haven't played for 10 weeks and I love playing football, whether it's playing in the park, or for Ireland, or watching games on TV.
"I was disappointed not to play in the Carling Nations Cup but I wasn't ready to play until now. I see this as a chance to play in games. It's what I do."
Was he surprised that others had stayed away?
"I suppose so, I think it's up to each individual and how they feel," he responded diplomatically, before tellingly adding, "I am completely the opposite and I will play for as long as I can
And from Emmet Malone:
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Seán St Ledger is flying in training, but his lack of match fitness may cost him a place in the line-up on Saturday
SEÁN ST Ledger looks to be training his way back into contention for Saturday’s game against FYR Macedonia in Skopje.
The 26-year-old, who had all but written off the game a few weeks ago after sustaining a knee injury in a tangle with Ciarán Clark in the build-up to the last Macedonia game, insisted yesterday he is ready for competitive action again.
The central defender hasn’t played for either his club or country since picking up that knock in March, but reckons he has done enough over the past few weeks to declare himself fit for the European Championship tie.
However, all that is certain is that he will be on the team plane this afternoon. Whether he makes the pitch on Saturday evening is something Giovanni Trapattoni will make a final call on over the next 24 hours.
