The international break will have been a long time coming for plenty of players in the Premier League. Here are six stars plying their trade in the English top flight who have struggled at club level and will be buzzing to spend some time with their compatriots.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Ronaldo reported late for Erik ten Hag’s first pre-season in charge of Manchester United, citing understandable family reasons, and has looked like a skiving college student lagging behind with his coursework ever since.
It is clear to see that the 37-year-old doesn’t fit Ten Hag’s system, yet the Dutch manager has no choice but to try and get a tune out of him in the Europa League, while bringing him off the bench on a weekly basis in the Premier League.
The Real Madrid and Red Devils legend has scored once this season in eight matches – a penalty against FC Sheriff last week – and finally looks like a player his age after years of defying logic and biology.
To spend some time as the main man being loved by everyone while on duty with the Portuguese national team could be just what the doctor ordered.
It won’t be easy for Ronaldo to hit some form in two tough Nations League matches against the Czech Republic and Spain respectively, but I fancy his chances of doing so. And if he doesn’t look like a threat for Portugal, there might not be much hope for him with a huge World Cup coming up.
Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)
“I’m happy to get a bit of fresh air here because it’s tough at Leicester right now. It’s clear that things are not going well at the club. We are doing everything we can as a team.
Tielemans tolgd himself : he is delighted to get some respite from the dire situation at the King Power before having to return ahead of the Foxes’ Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest.
going well at the club. We are doing everything we can as a team.”
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
There are a few West Ham players I could have picked. There is Declan Rice, and Lucas Paqueta, who has not hit the ground running, but he can be given the benefit of the doubt having joined the club less than a month ago.
The Hammers have started the season very poorly after two brilliant campaigns under David Moyes but have won two out of two in the Europa Conference League, which is a very winnable competition for the Londoners.
England camp looks like a hoot so Bowen will be happy to get in amongst it, but the Three Lions have two pretty difficult fixtures coming up against Germany and Italy.
Bowen’s place in Gareth Southgate’s squad is pretty insecure, even if being picked while performing badly for his club is a good sign.
After a season in which there were calls for months for him to be called up by Southgate, the 25-year-old’s inclusion this time around was met with moans and groans. He was lucky. But he has a chance to show that he belongs while kick-starting his campaign at the same time.
It will be particularly tough for Bowen at West Ham given the fact they haven’t really gone through a spell this woeful since he joined from Hull City. To go and link up with the country ranked fifth in the world should help improve his mindset.
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
The dude from Hershey, Pennsylvania is not happy at Stamford Bridge at the moment. Pulisic has come off the bench seven times and started once this term and is probably a beat shifted because Thomas Tuchel was sacked
Pulisic’s situation is quite similar to Ronaldo’s. Both players will go from being out of favour with their manager and plenty of fans at club level, to being adored in the international setup.
