Ten members of Gary O'Neil's Ipswich Town first-team squad have returned to Suffolk following international duty across six continents.
Key players like Exequiel Palacios, who featured in Lionel Messi's final match for Argentina, and Abdul Fatawu, who became the club's first Ghana international, are now back in training. The group also includes Daizen Maeda, the first Ipswich player capped by Japan, and Sasa Lukic, the first for Serbia. Almost the entire contingent is due back at Playford Road on Wednesday.
Manager Gary O'Neil, whose side sits 11th in the Premier League with six points from five games, has been open about his feelings on the break. "I don't like international breaks," O'Neil said at his pre-match press conference. "You're always looking at the line-ups and seeing who's playing and if they've come off at any point." The team's current position of 11th is detailed in the latest standings.
One player who returned early is midfielder Marcelino Nunez, who was released from the Chile squad for personal reasons. Reports suggested there was some disappointment after he was an unused substitute in a match against the United States.
For O'Neil, the best outcome of the break is seeing a full complement of fit players return. All will be needed as Ipswich face a demanding schedule, beginning with the visit of 19th-placed Fulham. The Tractor Boys will be looking to improve on a recent run of form that has seen them lose four of their last five league matches, including a 1-0 defeat at Everton just before the break, where they conceded the decisive goal in the 87th minute.
The squad's widespread international recognition is seen as a clear marker of the club's growing stature. With a full-strength group now available, focus shifts entirely to securing a positive result against Fulham this Saturday at Portman Road.
The original report is at bbc.co.uk
