LEE Hodson has more reason than most members of the Rangers squad to bemoan the length of the summer break they will get after the final Ladbrokes Premiership game of the season against St. Johnstone this Sunday.
He was involved with Northern Ireland at the Euro 2016 finals last summer – he came on in their group game against Slovakia over in France - and is hoping to be involved with his country in a friendly against New Zealand and their crucial Russia 2018 qualifier against Azerbaijan next month.
If anyone was deserving of a holiday at the end of long and draining season it is - even allowing for the fact he has not been a regular starter in recent months - the right back.
The defender, though, is unconcerned about the demands which have been and continue to be placed on him. The chance to lead his national team to the World Cup finals and play in Europe is worth sacrificing a few days of rest and recuperation for.
“Northern Ireland have got two games so I will have to see if I am in the squad,” said Hodson. “If I am, my break will be shorter. But that is fine by me.
“I have got an opportunity to go away with the national team and try to make another major tournament. As I said when I made the Euros, as a kid you dream of going to a tournament and being on the big stage.
“If my break is shortened for us to try and get a spot in the World Cup, that is fine by me and I am happy to do that. I want to make another dream come true and hopefully get to a World Cup.
“We have an important game against Azerbaijan and if we win that we will be almost assured of a play-off spot to get to the World Cup. I’m not bothered about having less of a break.
He added: “I think I’ll be okay. You make sacrifices as a footballer, but it’s about the memo-ries you make when you are playing for a big club like Rangers. You’ll happily sacrifice things like holidays to play in Europe. Every player would choose to play in Europe every week than have a longer holiday.
“We went to the Euros last year and that was something you dream about as a kid. The expe-rience I had is one I’ll treasure for ever. I’d rather make those kind of memories than have an extra week on holiday.
“You want to do as well as you can in your career so you can look back and say you’d don’t things like Europe of major tournaments. When you reach the end of your career you can en-joy the rest.”
Hodson could find himself up against his Northern Ireland team mate Niall McGinn if he gets the nod to start for Rangers in their penultimate Ladbrokes Premiership match of the 2016/17 season. He is looking forward to the challenge of playing his compatriot and helping his side get another win and round off what has been a disappointing campaign on a positive note.
“Niall is a fantastic player,” he said. “He has been playing well this season for Aberdeen and he does it when he is away with Northern Ireland. I know how Niall plays. It is the last home game of the season and we want to finish on a high.”
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