Mathias Pogba plays 30 minutes for his country in 1-1 draw with Senegal

Steve Davis has told the club’s official web-site that he wouldn’t dream of preventing any of his players from representing their country at any level. The Alex boss lost his leading scorer Mathias Pogba to International duty after he was called up to represent his country Guinea in an friendly fixture against Senegal in Paris.

Pogba missed last night’s 3-0 win over Coventry City in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as his national team drew 1-1. He made his International debut with 30 minutes remaining.

Davis kept the news of Pogba’s International call-up quiet to devise a game plan for the trip to the Ricoh Arena.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “We managed to keep it quiet about Pogs and it may have been a surprise to them (Coventry). Saying that we did miss him at times and what he can offer us.

   “I wouldn’t stop anyone from going to represent their country. It was his debut and it is a difficult situation but you can’t say no and we wouldn’t.”