Steven Reid is convinced he was right to retire from international football despite the Republic of Ireland's qualification for Euro 2012.
The West Brom star decided to call time on his involvement with his country last summer in a bid to extend his playing career after a catalogue of injury problems.
Reid has been enjoying an unbroken run of games in the Albion side this season, but after what he has been through, he is simply refusing to take anything for granted.
The 30-year-old is naturally pleased that the Republic have qualified for their first major tournament in 10 years, although he is adamant that he won't be part of the squad unless they are absolutely desperate next summer.
He told the Birmingham Mail, "At this moment in time I probably wouldn't play.
"I've started 14 league games this season - 14 of them on the spin, which is more than I've done for quite a while.
"At the moment I'm delighted with that and with staying fit and I think retiring from international football has helped me.
"I would have had another four, five or six games and instead I get the chance to recover.
"If I had had those games in midweek and been flying back from the other side or Europe to play in the Premier League it would have been a tough ask.
"I made the decision to prolong my club career and at the moment it's going really well. Next summer, if there were a few injuries and they were in desperate need, then you never know."