Town boss Mick McCarthy has no problem with David McGoldrick and Jonny Williams, both just back from ankle injuries, having been called up by their national sides, admitting that he would have done the same during his time as Republic of Ireland manager.
McGoldrick is currently with the Ireland squad ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Austria in Vienna, while Williams is with Wales, who play Serbia at the Cardiff City Stadium, also on Saturday in a World Cup qualifier, along with fellow Blues loanee Tom Lawrence.
The 28-year-old striker has made only two starts and one sub appearance since returning from his injury and the 23-year-old on-loan Palace man only four games from the bench.
Would McCarthy have preferred it if the pair hadn’t been called up so soon after making their returns?
"No chance, they’re good players, that’s not going to happen, and I can’t do a thing about it.
"And I’d have done exactly the same as them and would have called them up,” he admitted.
"We’ve just got him fit for the internationals!” he joked about McGoldrick. "It’s fabulous to have him back, we all saw the impact he can have [against Rotherham] last week.
"I think before the goal even, how he played, his touches and the flair that he has, but the goal in the 95th minute put the tin hat on it for him and for all of us.
"He’ll be away and he’ll be training, but he might not play in the game because they’ve been doing OK.
"So it’s up to him to look after himself while he’s away, how much he does, the intensity of what he does and let’s hope and pray that he comes back fit.”