Newcastle United have several players away on international duty over the next couple of weeks.
The break will give Steve Bruce a chance to reflect after Friday night’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
It will also give the players not called up to play for their respective countries a welcome break.
For the various internationals in Newcastle’s squad, though, there’s no let-up.
Fabian Schar - Switzerland
Schar will hope to add to his 57 Switzerland caps in the upcoming games against Belgium, Spain, and Ukraine.
The first is a friendly on Wednesday, and then attention turns to two key games in the Nations League.
Switzerland are bottom of League A Group 4, with just two points from their opening four games. They will be targeting a win against Ukraine, and Schar’s defensive efforts will be key in the match against group leaders Spain.
Jeff Hendrick - Republic of Ireland
The midfielder will be a part of the squad that faces England next week, and though it’s a friendly Hendrick and his teammates will be keen to leave Wembley with the bragging rights.
After that, it’s over to the Nations League and a game against another home nation. Ireland travel to Wales, and then host Bulgaria as they look to close the significant gap to the top two - Wales and Finland - in League B Group 4.
Emil Krafth - Sweden
Krafth has only made two Premier League appearances for Newcastle so far this season, but he has been called up again by Sweden manager Janne Andersson.
The right-back will hope to be involved in a friendly against Denmark next week, and then in difficult Nations League clashes with Croatia and France.
Jamal Lewis - Northern Ireland
Lewis will be forgiven for feeling a little nervous ahead of the international break.
The left-back, who has made a strong start to his Newcastle career, will play in Northern Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia, before travelling to Austria and hosting Romania in the Nations League.
Miguel Almiron - Paraguay
Newcastle’s only non-European international for the upcoming fixtures, Almiron will be in action as Paraguay fly to Argentina for the first of two World Cup qualification games.
They then host Bolivia, looking to build on a good start to the campaign. Eduardo Berizzo’s team have four points from their first two games, both of which Almiron started.
