The international break – don’t we all just love it?
And on top of our horrendous injury list, Jamal Lewis didn’t travel while Kenny McLean and Todd Cantwell were sent home before they could kick a ball in anger.
Surely this is unprecedented – nine players out and three more who will need the kid-glove treatment between now and Bournemouth.
According to the very reliable David Freezer at Archant, all three squad exclusions are precautionary and Tom Trybull is back in team training (I’ve seen the vid clip so I know that the latter is spot on).
So let’s hope all of the rest of ours return safely to Colney next week.
But this whole scenario has made me have a good old head scratch and try and recall as many Norwich City players as I can who have played for their nation while simultaneously wearing the Yellow and Green.
I’m not thinking about Jan Molby, Tim Krul or Martin Peters who respectively played for Denmark, the Netherlands and England before they joined us.
Or unlucky, underappreciated folks like Kevin Keelan, Ian Crook and indeed Peters again who most of us think should have appeared for England while on the books at Carrow Road, but those who actually played for their nations whilst Canaries.
My roster is from personal recall only as I would imagine this topic is difficult to google even if I could be bothered to try.
Wales: Mark Bowen, Jerry Goss, David Phillips, Iwan Roberts and (maybe) Mark Walton.
Scotland: Robert Fleck, Bryan Gunn, Grant Hanley, Kenny McLean.
Ireland: Wes Hoolahan.
Northern Ireland: Jamal Lewis, Michael McGovern.
England: Mark Barham.
Finland: Teemu Pukki.
In my usual succinct manner, I am buggered if I can think of any more so if any of our MFW readers can add to my list I’m sure we’d collectively be delighted for your suggestions.
And being a gentleman (maybe) I am drawing a veil over England’s performance in Prague. Perhaps Gareth Southgate has not dissimilar problems to Daniel Farke but unlike DF has a heck of a lot to choose from.
Anyway, I’d love to hear of any international players I’ve missed out – and I’m sure there must be a few.
Normality resumes at the end of the week
I’ll get in early….
I think Kevin Reeves won an England cap while still here and possibly Phil Boyer won a single cap?
RoI – Robbie Brady
Scotland – Russ, Ted MacDougal (?)
More later… (when I think of some)
Has Timm Klose had a Swiss call-up since he’s been here?
Steven Whittaker
Jim Brennan (Canada)
You are right about Reeves and Bowyer.
Actually Klose didn’t but last night Jòsip Drmic played a short while for Switzerland in order to join the list!
Klose played v Belgium in Nations League. I can go back to Hockey for Wales and Bone for Scotland. For England we had Woods and Watson to follow Barham and Boyer plus Green and Ruddy later. Add in O’Neill (Keith and Martin), Chris Martin Scotland. I also tuned in to watch Holland v Indonesia to see our newly signed Van Wolfwinkel play and later Fer played while with us. I have sneaking feeling Ian Davies, Efan Ekoku and Simeon Jackson all played full internationals with us. Hareide maybe? Vrancic has played for Bosnia since signing I think. Zesh Rehman rings a bell. Townsend played for Ireland with us and maybe Lee Power. Adrian Coote for Northern Ireland
Hi John.
I had no idea that Klose played in the Nations League for Switzerland so thanks for that one.
You’ve got a few others haven’t mentioned as well. as in Jimmy Bone, RvW and the possibilities of Aage Hareide and Adrian Coote.
Zesh Rehman is an interesting one. I think [from memory] he was a CB we loaned from Fulham and almost definitely the first ever Pakistani international to play in the Football League, if not the Prem.
Whether he played for Pakistan while he was with us I dunno tbh.
Thank you.
I believe that Craig Bellamy played for Wales when he was with us.
Hi Alan
No idea how I managed to forget that one!
Thank you.
Hi Martin
Dave Watson England
Chris Woods England
That’s my lots without searching
Hi Martin
One I forgot 2012 John Ruddy first and only cap
Hi Alex
Watson and Woods I’m not sure of and I’ve had so many laptop problems today I haven’t really had the chance to check them out.
You’re spot on about Ruddy though, for sure.
Cheers
Woods and Watson got there first caps with Barham on an England tour to Australia
Actually Alex, Chris Woods was one I purposely held back, but I had no idea that Dave Watson was capped on that tour as well.
You live and learn with MFW:-)
Didn’t
Gary Thought Timm , was Switzerland
Chris Woods .. England
Simeon Jackson Canada
Phil Boyer England
That’s because he is! DOH!! Sorry Lad … my bad!! 🙁
Hi Lad
You’re on the button with all three.
Thanks.
Rob green?
Alex Tettey for Norway.
Yep, absolutely as I acknowledged to Gary earlier.
I admit I did leave a few I knew of out deliberately but Tetts wasn’t one of them!
Thank you.
Didn’t Robert Green play 45 minutes for England whilst at Norwich?
Another one I couldn’t recall – cheers!
Yes mate.
Mind you as well as these two I forgot Tettey (Norway).
Leroy Fer scored at a World Cup for netherlands whilst playing for Norwich
Also Snodgrass and Russ Martin for Scotland
Hi NUFAN
Gary also picked up on Russ earlier but you’re the first to mention Snodgrass. I had no idea he played for Scotland whilst with us.
Thank you.
Youssef Safri for Morocco anyone??
And I think Drazen Muzinic for Yugoslavia before it disintegrated….
O T B C
Hi John
As I set my stall out on the non-google principle I’ll say I’m not too sure about Youssef – and I’d rather forget about Muzinic altogether although you could be right on both accounts.
I once met aforementioned Youssef in the Rising Sun in Coltishall and he said he loved hearing “Moroccan all over the world” and to see his national flag in the Barclay.
Thanks as ever.
I think Safri played in African Cup when he was with us. Had forgotten him
Marty, I offer the following, Gary Holt for Scotland, Ollie Burton and Ron Davies both for Wales.
Hi Cutty
I accept your offer of Gary Holt and although he was a little before my time I did see Ron Davies play and I cannot imagine him NOT playing for Wales.
I said to myself no googling so I won’t check out Ollie Burton yet – it’s not a name I can recall tbh.
But I bet you’re right!
Cheers mate.
I went to school with a lad called Ollie that’s how I remember the name. Ollie B helped us win the League Cup in 1962, I was 19 and a football fanatic in those days. He was normally a defender but played as centre forward and scored in the 4-1 win against Sunderland in that competition. He’s a Hall of Famer and I think he was capped for Wales during his time at Norwich.
Hi Cutty
I know we won what might even have been the inaugural League Cup in 1962 against the mighty Rochdale over two legs – apparently the programmes are worth a few bob today, especially the away one.
I haven’t looked at who is in the Hall of Fame for a while now – I will later on today.
I might learn something:-)
Cheers.
Hugh Curran from before my time too
Chris Llewellyn – Wales
Phil Mulryne – N Ireland
and possibly David Healy N Ireland whilst on loan?
Hi Colin
Mulryne is spot on.
Llewellyn? I’m sure you’re right, although I can’t imagine more than one or two caps for the Dragons in his case.
Another one of ours in that era who flattered to deceive.
Instinct tells me to put Healy down as a possible but I promised myself no googling so I can’t decide one way or the other.
Thank you.
David Williams 1986 Wales
Jeremy Goss 1992 Wales
Last one
Marley Watkins November 2017
Hi Alex
I mentioned Gossy myself and Dave Williams was a very tidy player so it wouldn’t surprise me.
Marley Watkins? not so sure.
Cheers – we’ve all had a bit of fun.
Marley got his cap in the November mainly on his form the previous season at Barnsley
Anthony Pilkington Ireland 2013
Nelson Olivera for Portugal
Hi Laurence
I had to give in and google this one simply because I couldn’t believe the suggestion!
Nelson played in 2017 – and indeed scored – for Portugal against the Lord knows who.
The MFW obscure but true trophy goes to you.
Cheers.
Faroes I think
Andy Townsend for ROI?
Hi Andrew.
Good one.
Obviously when you write something like this you leave a few out deliberately in order to encourage responses but I am amazed you’re the first to mention Townsend!
Thank you.
I think Trevor Hockey played for Wales during his short spell with us.
Hi Andy
Hockey certainly played for Wales and I’d like to think he did so while he was with us.
I’m looking forward to googling some of these suggestions later to find out!
Thank you.
Plus Dave Jones, Wales. He was involved in an aerial challenge whilst playing in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland, which resulted in a penalty being awarded for handball that led to the Scots qualifying. Good chance that it was actually the striker who handled it (could have been Joe Jordan, I’m sure someone will know).
Hi again Andy
I must be straight up and say I have no recall of Dave Jones at all.
Mind you with my memories of Joe Jordan the whole incident sounds plausible.
Thanks again.
Jones was injured twice playing for Wales and missed a whole season but still managed to pick up a booking on the bench for one of our matches. I have just remembered Mattias Jonson. Met some Sweden fans who said “Jonson? Yes not very good”
Two more:-
Did Efan Ekoku ever play for Nigeria whilst at The Carra??
Matt Svensson for Norway??
O T B C
Svensson was Swedish
Hi John
Matty Svensson was Swedish and I don’t think he played for them while here, although he was certainly an international earlier in his career.
He once said wearing a yellow shirt was second nature to him:-)
Ekoku? I don’t think so, particularly as he played for us during something of a golden era for the Super Eagles when they were spoiled for choice all over the field. Yet again I could be wrong.
Cheers.
Hi Martin;
I seem to recall reading somewhere that he was in their African Cup of Nations winners around that time….I sincerely hope that a player of his calibre would have played for Nigeria whilst at NCFC…if not, they must have had one heck of a squad
(Typical that I get Svensson’s country wrong!!)
O T B C
The Pocket Rocket Paul McVey NI 20 caps.
I thought Kevin Keelan got an England B cap I am be mixed up. also recall Mal Lucas Welsh I am sure. Martin Olsson, Sweden
Lad
You’ve cracked the vault with Martin Olsson.
I was wondering when somebody would select him – as I’ve said above I deliberately left a few out and he was one of them.
Hands up, “we love you Paul McVeigh” was one I completely forgot about.
In this case google = no fun:-)
Thanks.
There was a centre half who played for us and Wales – I particularly remembered him because his career ended after being injured in an International, which I thought was against Scotland, but turns out it was England. I could remember his surname but needed to open Canary Citizens to get the first name and FFTN for more detail.
Anyone else want to offer his name?
Mal Lucas also played for Wales but I’m not sure if he did so after joining us.
Hi Keith
I know the name Mal Lucas but that’s all I do know of him. I can’t help you with details of the centre half either I’m afraid, As you say, somebody else might be able to.
Having consistently said I won’t google during the run of this article I can assure you I’ll be looking up quite a few faces in the morning – curiosity and all that:-)
Thanks as always.
Afternoon Martin,
Here’s my two penn’orth:-
Andrew Crofts – Wales
Steve Morrison?? – Wales
Mattias Jonson – Sweden
Thomas Helveg – Denmark
Séb Bassong – Cameroon not sure at all about this one!!
Steven Naismith – Scotland
Kyle Lafferty – Northern Ireland
Nélson Oliveira – one for Portugal I think!
OTBC
Hi John
As I keep saying no googling from me but off the cuff:
Crofts? Certainly the odd squad call-up but caps? I doubt it.
Morison? Don’t think so.
Jonnson? His days were gone in every respect so that’s another no from me.
Helveg? see above.
Bassong? You’re right to be unsure – I very much doubt it.
Naismith, Lafferty and Oliveira? You’ve got the hat-trick there.
I did check out Nelson because I was bemused by the concept but you’re quite right in that he got what must surely be his final cap for Portugal in 2017!
And as for your final trio I’m glad their wages are off our books and they will never darken our doors again – result [eventually].
Thanks a lot.
Hi Martin,
No googling from me, just my increasingly vague memory!!
But….
Something sticks in the back of my mind about Crofty and Morison getting some welsh caps don’t know how many though (remember this was probably pre-Bale & pre-Ramsey).
Oliveira – wasn’t it just the one cap & one goal while he was with city?
Cheers
Hi John
You’re on the nose with Oliveira – it was the one thing I couldn’t resist googling and I admit it, I did.
One cap, one goal and yet to play for his country since.
I’m pretty sure Crofty got a few squad call-ups but caps?
Morison likewise – he was running out of gas when we signed him and apparently is still going in the lower leagues.
I’m looking forward to a google in the morning:-)
Thanks as always.
Didnt Robin Green play one game for Emgland
Hi Graham
Rob Green did indeed play [once] for England as Gary Wenn said above.
Thanks.
Kei Kamara for Sierra Leone?
Hi Paul
That’s an intriguing one tbh.
Kamara was only with us for about four or five months but played for Sierra Leone a fair old bit before he joined us and, indeed, a few times after he left us.
But did he play for his national side while he was with us? I dunno.
Thanks – good one!
I tried to google this one earlier today but couldn’t find a definitive answer.
I cannot think of many City signings with such a compelling backstory as Kei and I’m glad to discover that he’s still playing professionally in the States at the grand old age of 35!
Crofts and Morison deffo played for Wales while with us. I remember watching the match, only cos of those 2! Around 2012/13 I’d guess
Hi Dan.
As I said above I had guessed Morison was an “unlikely” and Crofts a “possibility”, so that makes me wrong on 1.5 counts:-)
Thanks for clearing that one up.
Hi Martin
Fun article. Lots of comments so may have missed this;
But, Steven Whittaker – Scotland? I haven’t googled either, but I’m sure I saw him and Russ on a team sheet or squad selection once.
Also can’t remember if Chrissy Martin made his debut for Scotland before or after leaving us…
Hi Martin
You’re dead right about Russ Martin and Steven Whittaker and it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if they have played in the same Scotland team together.
Chris Martin had gone to Derby before he played for us. The only reason I know that is because he was qualified for both England and Scotland and when he was first selected by Scotland he was pictured in the media wearing a Derby shirt.
The things you [think you] remember!
Thank you.
Robert Earnshaw and Carl Robinson with Wales
Hi Danny
I’d definitely go with Earnshaw although I’m not quite so sure about Robinson, who wasn’t really with us for very long but you might well be right on that one too.
Thank you.
I think Ruel Fox played for Montserrat before it exploded.
Ha!
I had to look that one up – couldn’t resist.
Yes Foxy did play for them, twice in 2004 and even managed a goal.
Long after he left us of course.
At least one of his parents hailed from Monserrat apparently – something I didn’t know until today. I thought he came from Ipswich tbh!
Thank you.
Three different keepers picked for England whilst at Norwich. Woods, Green, Ruddy. Not that many clubs will have exceeded that. Martin Peter’s certainly should have done. Ron Greenwood dismissed the possibility by saying he wanted to give younger players the opportunity-then wentband selected the (older) Ian Callaghan!
Hi Ed.
I remember that Greenwood selection of Callaghan only too well – he must have been at least 35 at the time. Callaghan, not Greenwood.
And as you so rightly say, few clubs can match three GKs picked for England, particularly within a timeframe of just over 20 years.
Thank you.
Didn’t Dave Watson make his debut against Brazil in 1984 while still a canary?
Hi Martyn.
With the benefit of Google [I’m allowed now] he did indeed and got another five caps whilst with Everton.
I’ve fond memories of him tbh – he cost us less than £100k from Liverpool Reserves I think although I didn’t look that up.
Thank you.
Now I def haven’t googled this, so could be waaaay off. But did Dave Watson play in a select Hong Kong 11 to mark the handing back of the country to China?
Have a hazy memory of watching the game on tv… I could of course be way off and also not technically an international fixture…
Martin, unbelievably you’re right.
The game apparently took place in May 1996 and Les Ferdinand scored the only goal of the game for England. It was indeed an unofficial match.
Of course, I didn’t need to google that, I knew it all along…
A walking Wikipedia!
I tried googling it after I posted it, and couldn’t find the fixture anywhere so god knows what I was googling! Glad you managed to find it.
Thanks to each and every one of you for some great comments and educating this writer with an amazing array of names.
From Ollie Burton to Jim Brennan, we surely must have covered them all. Although we probably haven’t of course.
MFW will be back in the next international break [which already ain’t too far away] in order to invite you to highlight your favourite City match of all time – and as ever we’ll want to know why you made your choice.
Plenty of stuff to talk and write about before then of course.
Cheers all.
What about Martin O’Neill – was with us when he played for N Ireland in 1982 World Cup?
Hi Andy
Yes indeed. He was the NI skipper at Spain ’82 so obviously that must have been during his second spell with us.
Thank you.
One no one has mentioned:- Age Hareide – Norway, and currently manager of the Denmark national team.
O T B C
Hi John
John Holland suggested Hareide as a “possible” earlier on.
So thanks for confirming it!