with joel Crosskill

IS THE world game being hijacked by club commitments?

Over a decade ago AC Milan supremo Silvio Berlusconi proclaimed his side to be more important than any national team - today more and more clubs and players around Europe seem to share the former Italian Prime Minister's priorities.

With the world's footballing appetite constantly expanding, many of the Premiership's elite internationals can find themselves playing three games a week.

With the likes of Paul Scholes, Jamie Carragher and Claude Makelele all opting for early retirement - in the hope of extending their playing careers at club level - perhaps it's an indication that many players perceive international duty as the leading cause of burnout.

A case in point is the upcoming African Cup of Nations (ACON) in which 16 teams compete for continental acclaim. With close to 40 - while still on club payrolls, it's no surprise that the club versus country debate rears its head once more.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the teams most affected by the ACON:

Portsmouth could be left with a squad of just 14 players capable of playing at Premiership level when they lose Kanu, Utaka, Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop for up to seven Premiership games.

Newcastle's losses include Obafemi Martins, Celestine Babayaro and two others.

Chelsea's challenges will be stiff as well, as they look set to lose a key quartet in their championship chase in Didier Drogba, Soloman Kalou, Jon Obi Mikel and Michael Essien.

Arsenal's African contingent includes Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alexandre Song. The gunners do, however, hold on to Emmanuel Adebayor, as Togo failed to qualify.

However, just as the English FA was forced to do for Michael Owen's World Cup injury - should these players return to their clubs injured, the respective African FA's may be called upon to pay the salaries of the maimed.

Thanks to Owens ruling, should a Drogba or Essien fall injured during ACON it could add up to hundreds of thousands of pounds per week, a burden too great for many of the smaller national associations.

So I agree that the national team should take priority, the reality is that a player can become stretched between his international duty and club loyalty, and if club and country are to co-exist compromise on the international schedule is crucial!

Full time!

Contact Joel at jcrosskill@sportsmax.tv