Anthony Pilkington found himself out of favour with Neil Adams at Norwich City, but for now he only wants to focus on the job in hand with the Republic of Ireland. Photo: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

Norwich City midfielder Anthony Pilkington will put his future to one side as he concentrates on the Republic of Ireland.

The 25-year-old looked on from the training base in Portmarnock on Thursday as the Canaries appointed temporary boss Neil Adams as Chris Hughton's permanent successor. Pilkington found himself out of the team with Adams at the helm during the final stages of a disastrous Premier League campaign which ended in relegation.

However, while what lies ahead may be uncertain, he is refusing to allow that to distract him from the task at hand, as he prepares for the end-of-season international friendlies against Turkey, Italy, Costa Rica and Portugal.

Asked about his future, Pilkington said: "I don't know. I wasn't really in the manager's plans towards the end of the season, so I'll have to wait and see.

"All I'm concentrating on now is doing well for Ireland, doing well for the country, putting that to the back of my mind and then dealing with that after the friendlies."

Pilkington has a year of his contract to run after Norwich exercised an option, but knows the summer internationals could represent a shop window for him if it transpires that he is no longer wanted at Carrow Road.

"Every game is a shop window and you want to do your best in every game that you play in. But I am just happy to be over here and back playing again and hopefully I can get some game-time."

Pilkington has had to remain patient as he attempts to make his mark on the international stage with a series of injuries in recent years having limited him to just three senior caps to date.

He has to manage his body carefully – he did not train with the rest of his team-mates in Malahide on Friday after completing the warm-up – but having missed so much football in recent weeks, he is desperate to be involved in today's clash with Turkey.

"My match-sharpness won't be as good as it could be, but hopefully I can use these games to get it back. The manager has just said come, train, get your fitness back and then we will go from there."

Sunday Indo Sport