Jim Magilton has expressed worries that this summer's World Cup could be a few games too far for Town skipper Matt Holland. The Northern Irish international believes that Holland may burn himself out of he doesn't take a rest soon.
While Magilton thinks that Holland fully deserves a place in Mick McCarthy's squad for Japan and South Korea he is concerned that Holland has played games while not fully fit: "Matt Holland deserves to be included in the Republic squad after playing so well during the qualifying games. He has developed well at international level and I think the longer he plays the better he will become, especially playing alongside Roy Keane in midfield. But I fear for him because he has played so many games. I don't think he has missed a league game for several seasons. He's so enthusiastic about the game and I think it's safe to say he could not have played for so long without having to play with an injury at one time or another."
Magilton points to occasions in his career when he has played matches when it might have been more sensible to miss out: "I am at a stage now in my career that I'm recalling moments I wished I had never decided to play while carrying a knock. I think Matt has suffered this season. I don't think he has gone into games fresh and although lately he seems to have got a second wind, there's every chance he could burn himself out before the World Cup. There will be no time between the end of what is a very demanding season for Ipswich and the trip to camp for the finals where he is again going to be put through the paces while having to adopt to the humidity there. I just hope he has enough energy to play. He's a high tempo player and so he will have to be careful about how he approaches the World Cup. There's a danger he could be stale by the summer, that's my main worry. I don't think there is a single player who has ever played with an injury and done himself or his team justice. In their hearts they know that they have got through games not giving 100 per cent. I have done it and it's a big mistake to make. I have never once found myself coming off the pitch and thinking it was worth taking the risk playing with an injury. Many foreign players don't bother playing if they have the slightest injury and that's one reason why there are so many foreign elder statesmen players still active."
Magilton feels that Holland's enthusiasm could be his undoing: "Matt Holland's problem is that he does not know how to say no when asked to play with 75 per cent fitness. I hope that does not backfire on him. I am a big fan of his and I want him to do well. If he's ready and feeling well, then I have no doubt he will impress. He has moved up from Bournemouth to Ipswich, then into the Premiership and international football and moved up to each level with ease."
Magilton also feels that if all goes well Holland will take more of the responsibility in the Irish midfield from Roy Keane: "Roy Keane seems to take on all the responsibility but Matt will gradually have to take on more and this can only help him. I have to do the same job as Keane with Northern Ireland. Matt is more of a box-to-box midfielder. However, a player gets more space and time in international and Matt will have to adopt to having this luxury and take on more responsibility. If he does that he can become the finished article. He has the ability, good feet, strikes the ball well and can score great goals. He knows there are still learning curves to go through and he's about to go through one of the most testing of all, the World Cup finals."