Why the participation of these two Sheffield United players during this month's crucial Premier League clash with West Ham must already be in doubt

The schedule Oli McBurnie and Oliver Burke must undertake, after being selected for Scotland’s games against Serbia, Slovakia and Israel, threatens to put their involvement in doubt when West Ham visit Bramall Lane on November 22.

The duo are likely to return to South Yorkshire only two before the meeting with David Moyes’ side, having completed an arduous two-legged journey from Netanya - where Steve Clarke’s team is set to face their Israeli counterparts - to Edinburgh and then on to England.

Although Wilder accepts qualifiers for next summer’s European Championships must go ahead - Scotland will reach the finals if they beat Serbia in Belgrade on Thursday - he has questioned the wisdom of the decision not to postpone the NL given the pressure on domestic schedules due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

McBurnie and Burke will travel to Bratislava on Sunday after appearing in the Balkans, before heading to the Middle East.

Wilder became the latest manager to speak out about the pressure being placed on elite level footballers when he questioned if it made sense for them to be hauled around Europe and the Middle East while social distancing measures are still in place at home. Pep Guardiola has also been vocal in his criticism of the calendar, while Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp called on administrators and TV chiefs to put their heads together and address the situation following his team’s meeting with the Catalan’s Manchester City side last weekend.

“Hopefully we can play the Euros next summer but if we continue like this let’s see which players can be part of that,” Klopp said. ““We played (last month) after the international break at 12.30 on Saturday at Everton. Some of my players were coming back from Peru,” Klopp said. “These kind of things should not happen.”

“They (broadcasters) cannot come together because each one looks for himself and his business,” Guardiola added, echoing the frustrations of Wilder and Klopp. “My business is to protect my players.”

Sander Berge will be the first member of United’s international contingent in action this week when he features during Norway’s home game against Israel tomorrow. The Scandinavians then visit Romania on Sunday before completing their latest round of NL fixtures in Austria next Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland duo John Egan and Enda Stevens are both expected to start when Stephen Kenny’s men face England at Wembley on Thursday. The Irish then face Wales, who have called-up Ethan Ampadu, in Cardiff on Sunday before hosting Bulgaria three days later.

Ampadu could win his latest cap during Wales’ home game against the USA in 48 hours time, while they also meet visitors Finland next Wednesday.

Aaron Ramsdale and Rhian Brewster have been included in the England under-21 squad which faces Andorra on Friday and then Albania on Monday. Both of those fixtures take place at Molineux. Ramsdale and Michael Verrips are the only senior goalkeepers presently at United’s disposal, as Wes Foderingham was ruled-out with a hand injury and Simon Moore’s name was ommited from the squad list they presented to the PL last month.

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