England might be on the cusp of qualification for Euro 2012.

But Paul Jewell is uninterested by the progress of the Three Lions or the development of young guns Jack Wilshere and Chris Smalling.

Instead he is on “tenterhooks” during the international break, wincing every time Carlos Edwards or Keith Andrews goes in for a tackle.

Jewell insists: “We love England to do well, but it is good for football. But my only interest, I have to be honest, is Ipswich.

“There is always a clash of club and country. I want my players to be international footballers but I don’t want them to be on duty until Thursday.

“You are waiting on injuries. Every time one of your players goes in for a tackle, you’re wincing. I’m on tenterhooks during the international break with injuries and players coming back tired, both physically and mentally.”

While Jewell is obviously focusing all his efforts on the Blues, he believes respective struggles at home were something that bonded both England and Ipswich.

With the national side winless at Wembley for four games, Jewell said: “The pressure on home teams to win games is huge. Sometimes that can work towards the advantage of the opposition.

“I think (Fabio) Capello has come out and said that a few times. With Wembley, the players are fearful. One mistake and they can get edgy and the crowd can get on their back. But that is the same with football everywhere.”

While tipping a bright future for England, Jewell added: “I think sometimes we are a bit precious – like we have a God-given right to win things.

“We have an arrogance that ‘we are England’ and there are an awful lot of teams that are as good or better than us. But we have a lot of good quality players – there is no doubt about that.”

England play Wales tonight at Wembley with Capello hinting that he might make changes to the side that comfortably beat Bulgaria on Friday night.

A win would push them six points clear of second place Montenegro meaning they would just need a draw when the two sides meet next month.

Town players on duty

David Stockdale – ENGLAND v Wales

Jaime Peters – Puerto Rico v CANADA

Carlos Edwards – Barbados v TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Keith Andrews & Damien Delaney – Russia v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Tamas Priskin – Moldova v HUNGARY

Josh Carson – Estonia v NORTHERN IRELAND