Right at the top of any list of questions for Ashley Westwood was always going to be the how and the why. How on earth did the former Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday defender become head coach of Afghanistan? And more to the point, perhaps, given that his new employers are one of the most isolated and repressive regimes on earth — why?
Yet there is a moment, when Westwood is describing a visit to Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, shortly after his appointment in November, when it feels more appropriate to ask if his marbles have been misplaced.
Westwood, understandably, has heard that sentiment before. “I’ve always been that character who kind of takes things in my stride, doesn’t overthink things too much, just goes with