Following a frenetic and highly successful opening month of the Sky Bet Championship season for Cardiff City, the international break now beckons...
Throughout this week, several members of the Bluebirds’ squad will be joining up with their countries as they prepare to take to the field across the world.
Fresh from his goal and assist against QPR on Saturday, Junior Hoilett has been called up by Canada. The Canucks host Jamaica – who knocked them out of the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals – at BMO field in Toronto.
This time around the fixture is a friendly, and gets underway on Sunday 3rd September in Junior's hometown!
Having started every league match so far this campaign - keeping three clean sheets in the process - Neil Etheridge will link up with the Philippines as they host Yemen on Tuesday 5th September.
Currently unbeaten, Etheridge and his teammates play the third game of their Asian Cup Qualification campaign and will be looking to extend the gap at the top of Group F.
Aron Gunnarsson will also be linking up with his international teammates in Iceland as they prepare for their duo of World Cup Qualifiers.
Staying in Scandinavia but travelling to Finland, Gunnar’s first fixture against the Finns kicks off at 5pm on Saturday, 2nd September, before returning home to face Ukraine on the 5th.
Centre half Bruno Ecuele Manga will be joining up with Gabon as they look to overcome Côte d’Ivoire in a World Cup qualifier.
Playing out over two legs, Gabon will host the first tie – which takes place on Saturday 2nd September – before travelling for the second leg three days later.
One of Manga’s defensive companions Jazz Richards has also been selected to represent his country. Of course, Wales host Austria on 2nd September, with Chris Coleman’s side looking to remain unbeaten, before travelling to Moldova for their second fixture on the 5th.
Jazz will link up with his international teammates later on this week as Wales look to claim their place in a World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Wales U21s
There are also three Bluebirds in the Welsh U21 squad that are looking to qualify for the UEFA EURO U21 competition. Robert Page has selected youngsters Mark Harris, Cameron Coxe and Rhys Abbruzzese to be part of his side that travel to Switzerland and Portugal.
The City youngsters play their first fixture against Switzerland this coming Friday (1st September) before flying to Portugal for their second match four days after.
Wales U19s
The Bluebirds also have five representatives in the Wales U19 squad. George Ratcliffe, Adam Sharif, Jack Bodenham, Ryan Reynolds and Sion Spence have all been called up for their fixtures against Iceland.
Wales U19s face Iceland twice in two days on the 2nd and 4th September at Corbett Sports Stadium in Rhyl.
