International Roll Call

Freddy Eastwood and Wayne Hennesseys displays against Bulgaria have earned them places in John Toshack's Wales squad to face Germany and Slovakia next month.

With Darren Potter, Andy Keogh, Stephen Ward, Stephen Elliot and Seyi Olofinjana all all in contention for similar honours, Mick McCarthy's squad faces a hectic few weeks ahead.

With the exception of Olofinjana, who may be required to play in Lagos on September the 12th for Nigeria's friendly with Togo, those on International duty could play 10 straight games from now until October the 6th, a little over 5 weeks, the time of the following Euro qualifiers.

It says something for Mick McCarthy's transfer nous that 4 out of a strikeforce of 5, that combined cost less than Robert Earnshaw are wanted at International level.

But if it creates the kind of fixture pileup that earns the wrath of the likes of Alex Ferguson, the benefits should be looked at with open eyes.

Pre-Blackpool, the talk was of players returning from duty on a high.

Post-Blackpool it was of the physical effects of a midweek international.

With some Wolves players having completed 6 games in the last 18 days, the sluggish performance at the weekend may be understandable.

But was it a pre cursor of things to come?

The only saving grace has been the kind hand dealt by the fixture panel. Of the next seven league matches, three are at home, and two more in the midlands.

Todays footballers are as much athletes as they are sportsmen, and Wolves high flyers are certainly going to have to prove that.

There's a lot of football to be played in the next nine months.

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