NI boss Sanchez lays down the law

Last updated : 17 February 2004 By Simon Turner

Jones has scored 14 goals this season
The news follows Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington's pleas with Sanchez to spare his two Ulstermen Paul McVeigh and Phil Mulryne in their promotion push. Glentoran striker Andy Smith was also hoping to miss out but Sanchez refused to let key players miss out on his first game.

Sanchez issued this warning. "I will be sensible but is up to me how I use the players. It's important that all players are committed. I will look unfavourably at people that can't be bothered to turn up for friendlies," the former Wycombe manager told BBCi.

Crewe manager Dario Gradi has a history of altercations with his international players leaving the club to represent their country, notably Clayton Ince - who has since virtually exiled himself from Trinidad and Tobago to concentrate on playing for Crewe - and Efe Sodje, who left the club under a cloud last summer.

However, this week Dario moved to a compromise by telling the official site: "It is good that our players are been called up to represent their country and I don't mind them playing at all unless it means they miss a match for us because of it.

"It does become a nuisance when you have players missing because of Internationals but we encourage our players to play International football and experience a different way of playing."

He added: "We like them to go and play when it is at the right time of the season."

So it looks increasingly likely that Jonah, the highest scoring Ulsterman in Britain, will play an extended part in Belfast this week.