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Wilson trains today. INPHO/Donall Farmer
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Wilson eyes comeback before having steel plate removed

The Stoke defender won’t travel to the US with the squad as he is scheduled for a trip to the doctor.

MARC WILSON IS hopeful of being involved in Ireland’s friendly with Georgia on Sunday as he will miss out on the trip to New York.

The 25-year-old Stoke City defender sat out Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with England as he has been struggling with a hamstring problem in recent weeks. Having come through two days training, however, Wilson could start the next fixture.

Speaking to the media this afternoon, he said: “The lads have been buzzing. It was a decent result against some world class players.

“I’ve been struggling with my hamstring for going on a month and a half now. I was devastated to miss that one. I’ve been doing work on it all week with the physios and it is starting to get better. Who knows, maybe there’s a shout for Georgia.

“The manager has been terrific. He said he knows I want to play in these games and just told me to get my hamstring right.”

After this weekend’s match, they play a World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands next Friday before the squad head stateside for a meeting with world champions Spain at Yankee Stadium on June 11.

And while Wilson may face the side the scored his first competitive goal against, he then is scheduled to have a metal plate which was put in when he broke his leg last October removed.

I’m booked in to take it out so I’ll not be in New York unfortunately. It would be some game to play in but I wish the lads all the best.”

At club level, Wilson must impress a new manager at Stoke next season after Tony Pulis was recently replaced by Mark Hughes.

“I haven’t met Mark yet but in the past he has done a great job wherever he’s been,” he added. “He’s a guy who likes to play football, which is what I like to do. I’m looking forward to working with him.

“That’s football isn’t it. People come and go. I wish Tony all the best as I thought he done a terrific job when he was there but obviously we’ve got a new manager now and I think everyone will be trying to impress him.”

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