NEIL Warnock revealed after Crystal Palace's 0-0 draw with Burnley that midfielder Barry Bannan wasn't injured - even though he failed to make the matchday squad.
Instead, Warnock said he preferred to have the option of Jonny Williams to come off the bench, leaving Bannan to watch the game from the stands - a week after he'd impressed from the start in Scotland's narrow defeat in Germany.
New signing James McArthur was also preferred to Bannan in the starting XI, even though he was on the bench for the Tartan Army in their clash with the world champions.
Warnock said after the match, when asked if Bannan was injured: No. I just fancied Jonny today.
"I thought he [Bannan] did well for Scotland, they all did and I thought they were unlucky to lose."
Last month, Bannan spoke of his frustration at a lack of first-team action under previous boss Tony Pulis - and admitted he could've left the club had he stayed in charge.
Bannan told us: "If Pulis was still the gaffer and I wasn't playing, it would have come to the point of going out on loan or maybe try to get a permanent move somewhere else.
"I don't want to be sitting on benches, I'm looking forward to the new boss to prove I should be in his team week in, week out."
