Marcelo Bielsa will already be mentally preparing for Leeds United’s milestone centenary game against Birmingham City next weekend, but many of his players have been focusing on their international commitments.
It’s been an eventful week for the Whites’ international players, from the senior players hoping to qualify for Euro 2020, to the emerging stars turning out for the youth sides.
Here’s our round-up of every Leeds international to feature so far.
Stuart Dallas
The utility man, who has featured at right-back for his club so far this season, played further forward against the Netherlands on Thursday, out on the wing.
He tracked back as diligently ever as Northern Ireland frustrated the Netherlands in Rotterdam, and he whipped in the cross for Hull’s Josh Magennis to open the scoring 15 minutes from full-time, catching out £67m Matthijs De Ligt and £75m Virgil Van Dijk.
That might have been a famous assist as it looked like Northern Ireland were to snatch a famous win, but the Dutch came roaring back with three goals in the final 15 minutes to win 3-1. Northern Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualification hopes now hang by a thread.
NORTHERN IRELAND LEAD NETHERLANDS
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 10, 2019
Josh Magennis punishes the Dutch to gives the #GAWA a huge goal
Watch the #Euro2020 qualifier live now on Sky Sports pic.twitter.com/m750bxbYbT
Gjanni Alioski
A key player for minnows North Macedonia, Alioski played as a wing-back in a 2-1 win over Slovenia. The result keeps their qualification hopes alive, against all the odds.
The tiny nation have never qualified - or even come close to qualifying - for a European Championships or World Cup, but with just three games left to play they’re only two points behind Austria in second place.
They next face the group leaders, Mateusz Klich’s Poland, on Sunday evening.
Mateusz Klich
Klich featured in a deeper midfield role for his country, playing for an hour as they completed a routine 3-0 victory away to Latvia, keeping their Euro 2020 plans well on track.
But all the headlines went to talisman Robert Lewandowski, who scored all three goals. The Bayern Munich striker has 11 goals from his last seven appearances for club and country.
Ryan Edmondson
The academy graduate, highly-rated young striker scored on his debut for England’s Under-19s last month, but he couldn’t find the back of the net against France in Wednesday’s Marbella Cup match.
Edmondson was substituted after an hour, as Paul Simpson’s Young Lions trailed 1-0. He was replaced by former Liverpool academy star Bobby Duncan, now at Fiorentina, as England equalised but went on to lose 3-1.
Nohan Kenneh
The 16-year-old was brought on for the final half-hour of England Under-17s 3-3 draw against Germany at the Pinatar Arena in Spain on Thursday.
He replaced West Ham’s Jamal Baptiste to slot into the backline for the final half-hour of the game as England fought back to equalise in the 90th minute.
Tough 3:3 draw against Germany. Good mentality from the boys to come from behind!! pic.twitter.com/drLWKHc2p7
— Nohan kenneh (@nkenneh101) October 10, 2019
Jack Clarke
The Tottenham loanee's been short of game-time back at Leeds this season, but he's been getting opportunities with England's Under-21s in recent weeks.
On Thursday, England's Under-21s played out a 2-2 draw with Italy, with Manchester United's Angel Gomes getting the headlines with both goals.
"Disappointing to come away with the draw today," the youngster wrote on Instagram after the game. "Felt we deserved a lot more. A lot of positives and we build towards Monday"
Alfie McCalmont
The 19-year-old midfielder provided the assist for Stoke City’s Jake Dunwoody against Denmark as it looked like Northern Ireland’s Under-21s were set to make it a third consecutive draw in their Euro 2021 qualifying group.
But the hosts struck late in Aalborg with a sensational overhead kick from Jens Odgaard, four minutes from full-time, to make it 2-1.
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