"?Nottingham Forest midfielder Jamie Ward has been selected for the Northern Ireland squad for Euro 2016 as the international show-piece in France edges ever closer.
The Championship midfielder is expected to play a key role in Michael O'Neill's squad in the tournament and one Forest legend believes that Ward can fly the flag for the club.
Speaking to the Nottingham Post, Kenny Burns is pleased that with Ward's selection, however, he was keen to stress his importance to his club side:
"I'm pleased to see Jamie Ward is going to Euro 2016."
"But, while it will be great to see him flying the flag for Nottingham Forest in France when he plays for Northern Ireland, I have to admit I would rather have seen him having a rest this summer."
"He had more than his fair share of niggles for the Reds in his first season at the City Ground, missing the last month of the Championship season with a hamstring injury."
"He's a big asset to the team when he's fit, but he wasn't fit enough throughout the campaign, so I think a proper rest this summer would have done Ward the world of good and he would have come back to the City Ground for pre-season fresh and ready to go again."
"From his point of view though, he will be buzzing to be going to the European Championships and he will be dreaming of playing against world champions Germany in the group stages."
"I accept if he has a good tournament for his country he will come back to Forest full of confidence for the new Championship season."
"But I still think a rest would have been better for him."
Forest ended the 2015/16 season in 16th place and the Championship side will be keen to improve upon what was a poor season with Ward set to play a crucial role if the club are to progress up the table in 2016/17.