Playing international football is always an honour for any footballer despite a packed fixture calendar meaning that some Rangers players could play nearly 70 games a season.
Joe Aribo is one recent example and for those who represent countries from further afield, the commitment is always going to be one with side effects.
Connor Goldson decided that playing for Rangers was enough and that the international scene wasn’t for him.
Connor Goldson put Rangers first over international hopes
The 31-year old has been speaking on the Talking Transitions podcast in which the Gers centre-half covers a wide range of topics including his time at Ibrox.
Ironically, the episode includes Goldson sharing his fears on being dropped and replaced by another player in the squad – almost as if he was tempting fate.
Goldson’s family tree means that the 6ft 3inch tall defender is eligible, however, as explained to the podcast, it is not something that he truly considered:
“I had the message a few years ago after we won the league.
“It was too hard, we play so many games here. Like, I was playing 60 games a season.
“Then, obviously I have got kids now to then go and leave my kids on international breaks and go and play for Jamaica.
“To be fair, my nan and grandad on my dad’s side both died before I was born so I don’t have that much of an affiliation.
“I feel like I should leave it to people that do.”
If only other Rangers players followed Goldson’s lead
There is a lot to be said for the international break for players who don’t get called up for their countries.
They get a rest, then get time with the manager on the training ground and watching video footage in a bid to improve individually and as a team.
For those that go, especially long distance, the recovery time is almost zero by the time the return to Rangers.
Look at Kemar Roofe.
He could have represented Jamaica at a much younger age but didn’t earn his first cap until he was 28.
Since then, he has earned just five in total and there is a reason for that.
The last time he played for them he got injured and spent time on the sidelines when his club needed him most.
Until last season Connor Goldson had barely missed a training session for Rangers, never mind a game and an element of this will be done to the periods where he can recover properly.
Is it a coincidence that James Tavernier and John Lundstram are rarely unavailable too?
Ryan Jack has probably cost himself a new contract at Rangers having been fit for most of the season, only to go away with Scotland, play five minutes and return to Ibrox injured.
With history, he really should know better and for the sake of his career needs to make the sort of decision that Goldson made, albeit for different reasons.