Being dropped is something that no footballer will ever enjoy.

Most will just about endure it, in the hope that a return to the team is just around the corner, while a few will go banging on the manager’s door demanding an explanation.

Northern Ireland winger Chris Brunt has felt the hurt of not making the cut all to often lately. This time last year Nigel Worthington plumped for Stuart Elliott on the wing against Latvia before recalling the West Bromwich Albion man five days later in Iceland.

That was shortly after his £3million move from Sheffield Wednesday to the Hawthorns.

While his switch to the Baggies have been largely successful, there have been times when Brunt has found himself relegated to the bench — particularly in last season’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Portsmouth.

And that’s where he has been for the last couple of games for his club, as well as on Saturday night when Northern Ireland lost 2-1 in Slovakia.

Now, rather than confronting Worthington, the 23-year-old Belfast-man is aiming to take out his frustrations on the Czech Republic.

Northern Ireland really need to get points on the board tomorrow night after that defeat in Bratislava and if Brunt can deliver quality crosses akin to that which Warren Feeney headed home against Denmark last November, then a recall would be fully justified.

“It was disappointing to be left out, like anyone else I want to play in every game, but tactically for the team the manager made the change and as a player I have to accept that,” said Brunt.

“I just wanted to get on in the second-half and try to help out.

“Unfortunately it was too little, too late when we got the goal.

“I was left out of the West Brom team for our last game against Bolton as well, but I think you have to try to take the positives out of every situation.

“I thought I played well when I came on against Slovakia, I should have done better with the shot I had that went wide.

“Now hopefully I can take that into training this week and get back into the team for Wednesday night.”

Worthington employed what looks like becoming his ‘away formation’ in Bratislava.

The 4-5-1 set-up proved to be a success in Scotland last month when Northern Ireland recorded a creditable scoreless draw with ten men.

With Keith Gillespie returning to the side Brunt was the victim at the weekend, however, he is confident that he can play a big part in whatever system the manager employs.

“Two out of the three games I have played this season for West Brom we have used a 4-5-1 formation,” said Brunt.

“Depending on what was it is played it can work for everyone in the team.

“I think in Scotland it maybe just didn’t click for me on the night and I didn’t play as well as I could have played.”

And the 20-times capped winger denies that the system is a negative one.

“People look upon 4-5-1 as defensive, but it can be used as an attacking threat as much as we want it to be,” he said.

“Maybe against Slovakia we were a bit too defensive on the night.

“We had worked on it during the week and we were getting players up in support of David Healy up-front.

“On Saturday he ended up isolated a lot in the first-half and that’s not good for any striker.

“We need our midfield players to break forward, but I think it was just the way the game panned out that it was difficult for them to get forward and the head was difficult to contend with as well because it’s not something we are used to.”