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Game time to help Clarets as seven head off on international duty

2020-10-06T09:49:00.000Z

International Rescue

Game time to help Clarets as seven head off on international duty

2020-10-06T09:49:00.000Z

Full-Backs Back To Boost Clarets - Image 2

Sean Dyche believes the international break can work in the Clarets’ favour to help get some of the squad’s returning players up to speed.

Burnley have seven players away on international duty, including widemen Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Robbie Brady.

The pair both returned from injury on the bench at Newcastle United on Saturday night, with Gudmundsson coming on for the final quarter of the Clarets’ 3-1 defeat.

And he now heads off to link up with Iceland, while Brady is in the Republic of Ireland squad which also faces a Euro 2020 play-off semi-final to kick-off a three-match schedule.

“Johann is getting fitter. He will go away and get some football, as will Robbie,” said Dyche.

“It (the break) is good this time. Sometimes you question it, but Johann needs football, Robbie needs football, so that’s a good thing.

“They definitely need that football. The others will get a few down days but then they’ll be working.”

Six Of The Best For Internationals - Image 3

As well as increased game time for the likes of Brady and Gudmundsson, the Clarets are also hoping that a two-week break from Premier League action will allow more of their injured players the chance to return.

Burnley have missed a number of key men in the opening weeks of the season and currently have a smaller senior squad than last season.

But Dyche is not hiding behind the personnel issues as his side looks ahead to a return at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, 17 October and the hunt for the first points of the season.

“There are no excuses,” added the Burnley boss. “We’ve been stretched before and we have still found results and good form and we’re going to have to do that again.”

Gudmundsson’s return to the Iceland fold and defender Kevin Long’s late call-up to join Robbie Brady in Ireland’s squad takes the number of international call-ups from Turf Moor to seven, with Dwight McNeil back on England Under-21 duty.

International calls and fixtures

Nick Pope (England) – Wales (H friendly), Belgium (H), Denmark (H)

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland) – Romania (H Euro 2020 play-off), Denmark (H), Belgium (H)

Robbie Brady, Kevin Long (Republic of Ireland) – Slovakia (A Euro 2020 play-off), Wales (H), Finland (A)

Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Northern Ireland) – Bosnia and Herzegovina (A Euro 2020 play-off), Austria (H), Norway (A)

Matej Vydra (Czech Republic) – Cyprus (A friendly), Israel (A), Scotland (A)

Dwight McNeil (England U21s) – Andorra (A Euro 2021 qual), Turkey (H Euro 2021 qual)

Nations League fixtures unless stated