Mo Konjic will give his Bosnian team mates his full backing against Scotland tonight, but he will be a puzzled man.

The big centreback who has been capped nearly forty times by his country and has captained them on numerous occasions, was dropped for this match even before his recent injuries.

Ironically, the Bosnian selectors have discarded him just as he has forced his way into Coventry City’s premiership team, yet they selected him several times when he was in the reserves.

Konjic could not have played against Scotland because he collected injuries to his knee and ankle playing for Coventry at Everton. He has been under treatment but expects to be fit again to play against Alan Shearer and Newcastle United at Highfield Road on Saturday week.

But the man, who for two years defended his village against Serb attacks and still sends a percentage of his salary back home to help rebuild his community, was surprised to be left out of his country’s squad.

Magnus Hedman meanwhile has put his honeymoon on hold to help England’s bid to reach the final stages of the European Championship. England need Sweden to win that match to open the door to the finals.

Hedman has pledged to do all he can to keep the Poles at bay on Saturday.

He did a Beckham on Sunday by marrying a pop star. He flew back to Stockholm to wed Magdalena Graaf, one of Sweden’s top vocalists, but then had to join up with the national team to prepare for the Poland match.

Laurent Delorge, who broke his leg in his first match for Coventry, faces surgery on his knee. The 20 year old Belgian’s career in England has been shot to pieces by a succession of injuries which have restricted him to less than half an hour’s football.

Specialists will assess whether he needs major surgery on a tendon in his knee which would keep him out three months, or a minor op which would keep him out for four weeks.
   

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