This week I remembered why I prefer domestic club football to internationals. I know we don't always see the best games in the Championship, but what was witnessed in Tel Aviv and Barcelona in the past eight days was pretty woeful.

This week I remembered why I prefer domestic club football to internationals.

I know we don't always see the best games in the Championship, but what was witnessed in Tel Aviv and Barcelona in the past eight days was pretty woeful.

We are left to wonder if the ridiculous high salaries and lavish lifestyles of our footballing elite are clouding their view of pulling on the three lions. We'd all happily lop a limb off for the honour, wouldn't we?

That's why I was so pleased to see Preston's David Nugent notch the third on Wednesday night; his beaming smile suggested to me that scoring a goal for his country meant to him exactly what it should.

The lure of the big wage packet has apparently been too much for the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips, unquestionably to the detriment of his international career.

So, as he ponders the first professional contract, perhaps a timely word for Chris Martin. I sincerely hope that those from the PFA who are guiding negotiations between him and the club will help him accomplish the right conclusion.

Over the years, we can proudly point to a healthy number of young City hopefuls who have come through the system to 'make the grade'.

For every one, however, countless others have missed the boat and there is a ridiculously fine line between success and failure.

I sincerely hope that the current crop of youngsters, loaned out around the lower leagues, will return to Carrow Road better, stronger and up for proving the gaffer they have a future at our club.

How proud would we all be if a couple of Jarvis brothers, a Henderson and a Martin could all become worthy regulars in the City line-up?

Pulling on that England jersey is a dream of every schoolboy in this country. Given half the chance, wearing the yellow and green of Norwich would have been up there for me too of course.

In stark contrast to me growing up in the eighties, the young lads of today have great opportunities; the country is awash with soccer schools, better coaches, contemporary facilities and diet and fitness regimes. Chris Martin has been given his chance and, so far, shown a tremendous maturity in grabbing it with both hands.

The past couple of months must have been a veritable whirlwind - a first team debut, his first Championship goals and an England winner - and now I hope he can cap it all by committing his loyalty and future with Norwich City.