When Sheffield Wednesday's international contingent are in action as septet aim to impress
Sheffield Wednesday have seven players who could earn opportunities on the international stage over the current break.
Sheffield Wednesday have a cluster of players who will be hoping to make their mark on the international stage as the first international window of the season prepares to get underway.
The Owls, who signed off for a two-week break with a 2-1 triumph over Salford City in their Jersey Mike’s Trophy opener on Tuesday night, are set to have seven players feature for their countries over this extended hiatus at both senior and youth level.
Wednesday originally had eight players called up by their respective nations, but Ali Al-Hamadi was forced to withdraw from the Iraq squad earlier this week because of an ankle injury, meaning he will miss their Gulf Cup campaign in Saudi Arabia.
However, one Wednesday loanee who is in line to feature for his country over the next fortnight or so is winger Kieran Morrison. The teenager was named in Northern Ireland’s squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, meaning he will be hoping to add to the debut cap he earned earlier this year.
Competing in League B’s Group 2, Northern Ireland will kick off their quartet of fixtures with a trip to Georgia on Friday before hosting Hungary at Windsor Park on Monday evening. Michael O’Neill’s troops will then lock horns with Ukraine in Slovakia on Friday, October 2, before bringing their international window to a close by welcoming Georgia to Windsor Park on Monday, October 5.
Elsewhere at senior level, Wednesday right-back Yan Valery could make as many as three appearances for Tunisia after earning his latest call-up for his country. The Eagles of Carthage will get their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign up and running on Thursday evening when they host Uganda, before locking horns with Botswana in their second qualifier on Monday.
Tunisia will bring this international window to a close with a friendly against Mali on Saturday, October 3.
Although he has made just one appearance for Wednesday so far this season because of an injury, Sean Fusire has also gone away on international duty, linking up with his Zimbabwe teammates. Just like Tunisia, they are also getting their AFCON qualifying campaign underway on Thursday, facing Sierra Leone in Morocco.
The Warriors will then lock horns with DR Congo in their second qualifier on Monday.
At youth level, Wednesday have had a further four players selected for international duty, including summer signing Harry Gray, who secured his maiden call-up to the England Under-19s squad. The Three Lions youngsters are scheduled to play four friendlies during the pause, starting with a clash against the Republic of Ireland at St George’s Park on Friday.
They will then jet off to Spain for three games at the Marbella Football Centre. After facing Norway next Tuesday, England’s youngsters will then face the USA on Friday, October 2, before bringing their overseas trip to an end with a tussle against Belgium on Monday, October 5.
Elsewhere at U19 level, Will Grainger has been selected to take part in Wales’ hat-trick of friendlies at a mini-tournament in Spain. After facing the USA in their opening game next Tuesday, the Wales youngsters will take on Norway on Friday, October 2, before wrapping up their trip with a clash against Northern Ireland on Monday, October 5.
Sticking with Wales, Owls goalkeeper Logan Stretch, who is currently out on loan at Buxton, has been named in their U21 squad for their European Championship qualifiers against Belgium and Austria. They will face Belgium away from home next Tuesday before hosting Austria at The Oval in Caernarfon on Tuesday, October 6.
Finally, fellow Buxton loanee Devlan Moses has been handed his latest call-up for Northern Ireland’s U21s, meaning he is in line to feature in their latest European Championship qualifiers. They will face Malta away from home on Saturday before returning to home soil and preparing for clashes with Georgia and Greece.
The clash with Georgia, pencilled in for Thursday, October 1, will take place at Ballymena Showgrounds, while the tussle with Greece will be staged at Mourneview Park in Lurgan on Tuesday, October 6.