Centre-half Tommy Smith faces another one of his lengthy international round-trips this week with New Zealand in friendly action against China in Shanghai on Wednesday. Josh Carson is the only other member of the first team squad away on international duty this week with Town turning down Trinidad and Tobago’s request to field skipper Carlos Edwards in Caribbean Football Union Cup qualifiers.

Smith flew out to China on Sunday and is unlikely to be back in training at Playford Road until Friday morning.

Carson is with the Northern Ireland U21s, who take on England at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road on Tuesday.

As reported last week, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation asked if Town would release Edwards for the Caribbean Football Union Cup qualifiers against St Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, Surinam on Friday and Cuba on Sunday, with all the games being played in Bacolet, Tobago.

But Soca Warriors interim coach Hutson Charles has confirmed that Town have turned down his association’s request.

While Wednesday is a designated international date, Friday and Sunday are not and Edwards would have missed Town’s game at Leicester if permission had been granted. The 34-year-old has been capped 82 times by his country, scoring four goals.

Photo: Action Images

Marcus added 06:41 - Nov 12 Tommy shouldn't be flying so far for a friendly. Although this time against strong opposition it may be good for him. Playing against small countries with low populations isn't helping his development and it's clearly affecting his performance. I'll accept key World Cup qualifiers, friendlies in Europe, and major competition finals but some of the other games would benefit NZ based players more. I'm guessing he won't play next weekend or will be a sub.

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NickITFC added 06:42 - Nov 12 Time for a club vs country row regarding Edwards.
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Popeye added 07:30 - Nov 12 Think we should be having a club vs country row regarding Smith. Playing a bloomin pointless friendly half way across the world is not as important as three points next saturday.
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DiamondGezzer added 07:47 - Nov 12 Wasn't Carlos considering his international future a while ago ?
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Karlosfandangal added 09:05 - Nov 12 We keep hearing about the young ones getting burned out, yet Tommy has not stopped playing football for nearly 2 years. Think Jewell was right to drop him from the side as he needed the rest IMO . On Saturday he really looked up for it and ready to go let's hope al l this traveling for meaningless friendlies does not put him a stp backwards again
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AndrewPC added 10:52 - Nov 12 This is absurd. Tommy is going to do a round trip of some 20000 kilometres in 5 days to play a FRIENDLY !!! and we need him in the defence for Saturday ? I think there is too much irrelevant international football being played making intrusive calls on the professional clubs that pay the players' wages. Even the quality of soccer played at the last World Cup - bar a few exceptions - did not match or better what you see in the Championship

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MathieandMarshall added 12:21 - Nov 12 I guess with Tommy Smith fully fit and this being an "international week" the club have no choice but to release him?
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flashblue added 12:22 - Nov 12 It's down to Tommy, really. Personally in his position I would not make myself available. He needs to think of his career.
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BlueVelvet added 12:48 - Nov 12 China and back in the week - he's gonna be of no use for Sat then
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oldelsworthyfan added 17:21 - Nov 12 I agree with the posts above re Tommy Smith being dragged off to China to play in a pointless friendly when his club is desperately trying to stay in the Premiership. IF he is picked to play on Saturday he is likely to be washed out and to underperform and lose his place on the team, so what good will that do him or us?
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Edmunds5 added 06:33 - Nov 13 I disagree and think it is entirely up to the player personally. No club should decide whether there player should go away on international duty or not, if we were all New Zealanders we would be annoyed Tommy wouldn't have been able to play because his club side wouldn't let him. Tommy clearly feels honoured to play for his country and he's regarded so highly that he is there captain at times, whether its a competetive game or not its a privaledge for him to represent his country so let him go and do that. We may lose out at times and its unfortunate for us how far he has to travel but what can you do? its part of football.

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