Neil Warnock has complained about Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough playing Paddy McNair and Stuart Dallas in all three of their matches over the international break.
The Leeds United defender played 120 minutes for his country in their crunch Euro 2021 qualifying match against Slovakia, which they lost 2-1 in extra-time.
Dallas and McNair were then both selected for Northern Ireland's two Nation League matches against Austria and Romania, completing the full 90 minutes in both, despite Baralcough ringing the changes for two dead rubbers games.
With players struggling with injuries during the international break amid the hectic domestic calendar, Warnock has voiced his frustration with Baraclough for his selection policy.
“Paddy McNair has played three of the toughest games you could wish for and he has played almost every minute," the Boro boss told talkSPORT.
“I don’t understand how him and Stuart Dallas can do that. There’s something wrong when that happens. You’ve also got to think of the players.
“We helped him up to the first game, but after that...I can’t accept that when there’s nothing else to play for.”
Leeds' internationals clocked up plenty of minutes, with Mateusz Klich, Ezgjan Alioski and Liam Cooper all away with their countries during the break.
Cooper didn't feature whilst Scotland qualified for Euro 2021 in dramatic style, with a penalty shoot-out victory over Serbia, but did feature against Slovakia on Sunday in a 1-0 defeat.
Alioski also sealed his place in next summer's tournament as North Macedonia beat Georgia 1-0.
The Whites take on Arsenal this week hoping to have the trio full fit and available for selection, alongside teammates Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo Moreno.
