Coventry City manager Andy Thorn has said he hopes that the international break will do his club captain Sammy Clingan a power of good and that he will return to the club rested and full of confidence.
Clingan is currently with the Northern Ireland squad as they prepare for their two European Championship qualifying games against Estonia and Italy, but he has been in under par form for his club in recent weeks.
Thorn is hoping the international games will provide the boost that Clingan needs to get his game back up to speed and when he returns he will once again be the lynch-pin in the diamond formation that proved so successful at the end of last season.
Thorn told the CT: “He’s the cog in our wheel, if you like, and I am looking forward to having him back after the international break because I know he’s desperate to do well and get us going again.
“I think he will come back and be at it again. By their own admission the players weren’t at it at Barnsley on Saturday. He gets frustrated because he is a talented player and by his own admission he is just off his game at the minute.
“He sets himself high standards and he wants to get back to that and I am sure he will. He’s the focal point of what we do and that’s why we need him on top of his game because he’s a quality footballer.”