Newcastle United defender Fabian Schär will miss Switzerland’s European Championship qualifiers against Georgia and Gibraltar as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
The 27-year-old has missed Newcastle United’s last three Premier League fixtures, and will continue to work towards a return to full fitness at the Magpies’ Benton training centre while his country attempt to secure their qualification for next summer’s EURO 2020 tournament.
So far, Schär has played in five of Switzerland’s six Group D games so far, netting once against the Republic of Ireland in September.
Should Vladimir Petkovic’s men win both games, Switzerland will secure their place at next year’s finals, which is set to be held in 12 cities across Europe.
Fellow centre half Ciaran Clark has been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their crucial qualifier with Denmark on Monday.
The United defender has been in fine form for the Magpies, netting twice in as many games to help lift Steve Bruce’s side to 13th in the Premier League table.
And he has been rewarded with a return to the Ireland fold, with Mick McCarthy naming the 30-year-old in his squad for their fixtures this month.
McCarthy’s men face New Zealand in a friendly in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Thursday night, before the vital clash with Denmark at the same venue four days later.
Ireland currently sit top of Group D and know that a win over second-place Denmark will further boost their qualification hopes.
Martin Dúbravka’s Slovakia, meanwhile, are also in qualifying action this week, with games against Croatia and Azerbaijan in Group E.
Newcastle’s number one is likely to line up in Rijeka for their clash with group leaders Croatia on Saturday night, before they welcome Azerbaijan to Trnava on Tuesday for a fixture which could decide their hopes of making it to the finals.
Further afield, DeAndre Yedlin’s USA will face Canada and Cuba in the CONCACAF Nations League during the next fortnight.
Yedlin could feature for his country when they welcome Canada to Orlando on Friday, before they take on Cuba in George Town, Cayman Islands, on Tuesday.
Winger Miguel Almirón is also in action this week, as his Paraguay side play friendlies with Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia.
Both games see Paraguay travel away, with the Bulgaria game held in Sofia on Thursday and the Saudi Arabia contest in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Fellow Newcastle man Emil Krafth, meanwhile, is due to become a father, but could still link up with the Sweden squad later this week.
Janne Andersson’s side currently sit second in Group F, and wins over Romania and the Faroe Islands in the coming week would secure their qualification.
Young defender Oisín McEntee is part of the Ireland Under-19 squad for their European Championship qualifying triple-header against Switzerland, Gibraltar and Austria, while midfielder Joe White – who penned his first professional contract at St. James’ Park last week – could make his bow for England Under-18s, who face Russia, Norway and the Czech Republic in friendlies at the Pinatar Arena in Spain.
Matty Longstaff could also make his international debut in England Under-20s’ friendlies with Portugal and Iceland Under-21s.