While most Premier League footballers jetted off to the bright lights, searing heat and sandy beaches of Dubai or the Costa del Sol last weekend, Republic of Ireland defender Marc Wilson decided on the rather unconventional post-season destination of Iceland.
Having played 34 games for Stoke City last season and coming off the back of a memorable 6-1 victory over Liverpool the 27-year-old flew north to the volcanic island for some deep sea fishing and hiking before returning to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad on Monday.
“My fitness feels good and Iceland definitely helped me. I did a lot of hiking and just relaxed so I feel pretty good,” the Stoke defender said after Ireland’s open training session at the Aviva Stadium this morning.
Wilson has played at both centre back and left back under Martin O'Neill's managership and, after Robbie Brady filled in at full back against Poland in March, Wilson could be moved out wide for one of the upcoming Aviva Stadium clashes.
“I hope he [O’Neill] just sees me as a centre-back now but if there’s a hole in the team that needs to be filled I’ll play anywhere for the team.”
The man from Aghagallon in County Armagh is looking forward to playing against his native Northern Ireland in the behind-closed-doors friendly tomorrow and says that he won’t be afraid to add a bit of extra force to a tackle.
“It’s not a training exercise, it’s definitely a match. I think the manager will be looking at trying out a few changes to see what his team will be like for the Scotland match.
“You get tackled and you just have to get on with it and when you get the chance stick the foot in and do the same.”
European football push
After two satisfactory seasons in which Stoke have finished ninth and improved on their points tally each year Wilson believes that they are not far off pushing for a European spot.
“To be honest I think that’s what’s going to be the chairman’s aim this year [European football]. Hopefully we can sign a few more players to give us that extra push because we’re not far off it at the moment.
“We’ve had two terrific seasons the last two seasons, both finishing ninth. Each year we’ve achieved better points than the previous year so we’ve hit the target set by the manager which was to finish better off than the season before.”
