After losing 3-1 to Arsenal on Saturday, some of Southampton’s players will now head off for international duty.
Russell Martin will be working with a reduced Southampton squad for the next fortnight as he tries to mastermind a first Premier League win of the season against Leicester City.
That game could well prove pivotal for Martin’s job prospects with the pressure ramping up with Southampton on just one point from seven games in the top flight this season.
The 3-1 defeat against Arsenal was perhaps expected but Martin will need to spend the time on the training pitch wisely if he is to turn around Southampton’s fortunes, especially given they face Manchester City after Leicester.
- READ MORE: Danny Higginbotham reveals one key reason why he thinks Southampton certain to be relegated
He will have to do so without six of his Southampton stars who have been called to represent their respective nations, so let’s take a look at every Saints player on international duty in October.
Every Southampton player away on international duty
One player who will not be representing his country this month is Ben Brereton Diaz after falling out of favour with the Chilean manager and struggling to make an impact since signing for Southampton.
Lesley Ugochukwu has also missed out on a call-up to France under-21s after representing the youth side last month, perhaps reflecting his own performances in the past few weeks.
Will Smallbone picked up an injury playing for Ireland last month and has not played a minute since so will remain at Staplewood to continue his recovery.
Tyler Dibling has been a revelation since breaking into Martin’s side and will be joined by Sam Amo-Ameyaw in England’s under-19 squad.
- READ MORE: Russell Martin reveals one reason why ‘really talented’ Southampton teen isn’t featuring right now
Taylor Harwood-Bellis is captain of the England under-21 side and has joined up with the young Three Lions, whilst Mateus Fernandes has been called up to the Portugal equivalent.
That means the only two Southampton players on senior international duty will be Jan Bednarek and Yukinari Sugawara, for Poland and Japan respectively.
Every game a Southampton player could feature in during the October international break
With a number of games for Saints’ international contingent, there will be plenty of opportunity to see Southampton’s stars in action.
Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw
England U19 vs Portugal U19 (Wednesday 9 October, 7pm BST)
England U19 vs Netherlands U19 (Saturday 12 October, 7pm BST)
England U19 vs France U19 (Tuesday 15 October, 12pm BST)
Taylor Harwood-Bellis
England U21 vs Ukraine U21 (Friday 11 October, 7:45pm BST)
England U21 vs Azerbaijan U21 (Tuesday 15 October, 7:30pm BST)
Mateus Fernandes
Faroe Islands U21 vs Portugal U21 (Friday 11 October, 4pm BST)
Andorra U21 vs Portugal U21 (Tuesday 15 October, 6pm BST)
Jan Bednarek
Poland vs Portugal (Saturday 12 October, 7:45pm BST)
Poland vs Croatia (Tuesday 15 October, 7:45pm BST)
Yukinari Sugawara
Saudi Arabia vs Japan (Thursday 10 October, 7pm BST)
Japan vs Australia (Tuesday 15 October, 11:35am BST)