Source: FOOTYMAD
I Need The Rest
Mark Wilson wants a break before getting ready for next season Celtic defender Mark Wilson says he would love to play every game possible but he is simply too tired to play on. He was not selected in coach Craig Levein's squad for the upcoming double-header against Wales and Republic of Ireland despite making his full international debut in February as a substitute in the 3-0 Nations Cup win over Northern Ireland in Dublin. He will miss the final games in Dublin next week which will conclude the inaugural tournament. Wilson, whose deflected shot off Stephen Craigan helped Celtic to a 3-0 win over Motherwell in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden on Saturday, revealed he had explained his decision to an "understanding" Levein. Wilson said: "He was good enough to call me and ask if I thought I needed a rest. As much as I would love to play for Scotland and play in every game, it just wasn't possible. It was maybe two games too far and another four or five training sessions cuts your rest down in the summer to three weeks. He was fairly understanding of that and I'm grateful that he does understand and hopefully he will keep me in his mind for future internationals." Wilson finished the season on a high, establishing himself as Celtic's first-choice right-back, but he knows there is no guarantee he will still be first choice next season. He is already bracing himself for a challenge to his position next season. Wilson said: "I am happy. I have been injury-free most of the season and I am glad that the manager stuck with me. He has another two top-class right-backs in Andreas Hinkel and Cha Du-ri and he stuck with me, so I'm happy with that. But there is going to be some competition next season. I don't know what is happening with Andreas in the summer but Cha is there and there is Adam Matthews coming in (from Cardiff) as well so there could be four right-backs going for the one position. I am a believer that everyone starts with a clean slate at the beginning of the season. I thought that way when I was out of the team in the last few seasons. I saw it as an opportunity to get back into the team and that's the way those boys are going to be looking at it, to get me out of the team. So it's important that I start the season well and hopefully keep my place."
