West Brom Manager James Morrison Voices Support for Isaac Price's International Duty
West Bromwich Albion boss James Morrison has delivered his final verdict on the ongoing club versus country debate, confirming his contentment with attacker Isaac Price's international load for Northern Ireland. However, Morrison did not hold back in blasting the EFL and international fixture scheduling, labeling it as illogical and poorly planned.
Morrison's Stance on Price's Involvement and O'Neill's Decisions
The involvement of Price for Northern Ireland, alongside other internationals from relegation-threatened Championship clubs, sparked headlines this week. This was particularly notable with Michael O'Neill managing both the national team and lowly Blackburn Rovers, raising potential conflict of interest concerns. It was reported that two Championship clubs, not including Albion, contacted the EFL to express their worries.
O'Neill, who is in charge at Ewood Park until the season's end, sent three Northern Ireland squad members home, but Price remained and played 45 minutes in a 1-1 friendly against Wales on Tuesday. Other players, such as Portsmouth's Terry Devlin and three from Oxford, were also involved. Morrison expressed his satisfaction with this outcome, stating, "Pricey had a difficult game against Italy in the World Cup play-off, and I was happy he got 45 minutes the other night. It was good for him."
He emphasized the importance of international football for players, adding, "The players are desperate to play for their country, and I've got no qualms because I know how vital it is." Morrison acknowledged initial concerns about the friendly but praised O'Neill's handling, saying, "Michael did the right thing with 45 minutes, which is similar to our schedule here, keeping them in rhythm."
Criticism of Fixture Scheduling and Travel Demands
Morrison's primary frustration lay with the fixture schedule, which sees Albion facing a grueling run of Friday-Monday-Friday matches over the Easter period, including a moved clash against Millwall for broadcast. He questioned the logic behind this, stating, "I was more worried about the schedule. Where's the logic behind it? If they're going to have that friendly, have it a day earlier or give us a Saturday game."
He called for better planning to prevent such issues from escalating, urging, "Just sort the schedule out so this doesn't become a big problem." Morrison also highlighted the importance of proper recovery for returning players, noting efforts to coordinate travel, recovery, and sleep schedules.
Diakite's International Debut and Travel Challenges
In other news, Albion midfielder Ousmane Diakite made his international debut for Mali, coming on as a substitute in a match in Russia. His return journey was arduous, involving a 5:30 am flight from Russia, a transfer in Istanbul, and arrival in the Midlands at 5 pm on Wednesday. Morrison expressed pride in Diakite's achievement, saying, "Oussie has been rewarded for his performances with us, and he had a bigger smile than usual!"
Despite the extensive travel, Morrison remained pragmatic, adding, "It is what it is; you have to deal with it as another challenge." He emphasized that the players are now fully focused on Albion's upcoming fixtures as they return to club duties.
