When Sheffield United's international contingent are in action as octet aim to impress
Sheffield United have had eight players called up for international duty for this current break.
Sheffield United have a cluster of players who will be hoping to make their mark on the international stage over the next fortnight or so as the first international break of the season prepares to get underway.
The Blades, who signed off for the pause with a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium last weekend, have had eight players called up for international duty in total, meaning boss Chris Wilder will be keen to see them impress for their countries and, perhaps more importantly, report back to Bramall Lane injury-free.
The September and October international breaks have been combined this season, meaning United are not back in action until October 10, when they welcome Lincoln City to Bramall Lane.
The break will see European nations navigate their way through a cluster of UEFA Nations League matches, while other countries further afield are participating in different tournaments and playing international friendlies.
United loanee Liam Kitching and striker Tom Cannon received call-ups to the Republic of Ireland squad last week for their quartet of Nations League fixtures. They are competing in League B’s Group 3, taking on Kosovo, Austria and Israel.
Ireland will face Kosovo away from home in their first game on Thursday evening. They will then travel to Hungary to take on Israel on Sunday.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side will then return to home soil to prepare for a clash with Austria at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on October 1. They will conclude their fixture list with another clash against Israel on October 4. Although that is a designated home game for Ireland, the match will be played in Bačka Topola, a small town in Serbia.
Elsewhere, defender Rhys Norrington-Davies is poised to be in Nations League action over the break after being called up by Wales. Craig Bellamy’s side were promoted during the last Nations League campaign, meaning they are competing in League A this time around.
Featuring in Group A4, they will lock horns with Portugal, Denmark and Norway, starting with a trip to Lisbon to face Portugal on Thursday evening. The Dragons will then lock horns with Denmark in Copenhagen on Sunday teatime.
Bellamy’s troops will then return home for back-to-back games against Norway and Denmark, hosting the former on October 1 before taking on Denmark for a second time in a week on October 4.
Moving further afield, summer signing Hamza Choudhury has been included in the Bangladesh squad for their FIFA ASEAN Cup matches against Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Bangladesh will face Malaysia in their opening game on Friday before taking on Singapore on September 28 and Indonesia on October 1.
Should Bangladesh finish in either of the top two spots in Group A, they will play one more fixture. The tournament is being hosted in Indonesia.
After representing Curaçao at the World Cup during the summer, Tahith Chong has been included in their squad for their CONCACAF Nations League fixtures. They will take on Costa Rica on Friday before facing Nicaragua on September 28.
They will bring their fixture list to a close with a double-header against Trinidad & Tobago on October 1 and October 4, respectively.
Elsewhere at senior level, Ben Brereton Díaz has been named in the Chile squad for their friendlies against Canada and the USA. They will take on Canada in Toronto on Sunday before locking horns with the USA in St Louis on September 30.
At youth level, Sydie Peck will once again represent England Under-21s after being named in Lee Carsley’s squad for the Three Lions youngsters’ hat-trick of European Championship qualifiers. After facing Kazakhstan at Molineux on Friday night, the Three Lions will then take on Slovakia at the bet365 Stadium on October 2 before facing Ireland in Cork on October 6.
Meanwhile, United youth goalkeeper Thomas Betts has been named in the England U18s squad as they prepare to play four matches in the UEFA Friendship Cup in Switzerland. They will lock horns with Colombia on Thursday before facing Egypt on Sunday and then Korea Republic on September 30.
A fourth game will take place on October 3, but the Three Lions’ opponent will not be confirmed until after their third outing.