Town boss Joe Royle has revealed that midfielder Ian Westlake turned down a place in the England U21 squad to rest himself for league fixtures. Westlake has complained of tiredness in recent weeks and was dropped to the bench for the Plymouth and Coventry games.
Royle told the club site: "Ian could have gone away with England but I had a word with Peter Taylor and asked him if he could stay with us and Peter agreed.
"Ian has not been at his best for us recently and wants to concentrate on getting back to the level he showed for us last season.
"It's nothing more than second season syndrome. The opposition knowing more about him, the expectations are higher and the challenge that brings.
"But he'll be back to his best very soon, I'm sure of that."
Westlake was in each of Peter Taylor's last two squads but has yet to win a cap.
The former England schools waterpolo international will take on Olympic swimmer Karen Pickering in a 50 metre challenge race at an event at Crown Pools on October 31st.