Four members of the Town squad are away on international duty over the next fortnight. Gareth McAuley is with Northern Ireland, Tamás Priskin with Hungary, Carlos Edwards with Trinidad and Tobago and Owen Garvan with the Republic of Ireland U21s.
McAuley’s side face a World Cup qualifier in the Czech Republic on Wednesday 14th October, a game they have to win to stand any chance of reaching South Africa. The central defender has previously won 19 caps and has scored one international goal.
Priskin’s Hungarians, who have a similarly slim chance of qualification, face Portugal on Saturday, 10th October and Denmark four days later. The striker has previously won 21 caps and has scored eight international goals.
Carlos Edwards’s Trinidad and Tobago have no chance of qualification and complete their fixtures with games against Costa Rica on Saturday and Mexico the following Wednesday. Edwards has previously won 76 full international caps and has scored four goals.
Owen Garvan will be with the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for European Championship qualifiers against Georgia in Dublin on Friday and then Switzerland in Waterford next Tuesday. Garvan, who has previously won 11 caps at U21 level and captained the side in their recent 1-1 draw in Estonia.
Meanwhile, one of this morning's tabloids claims that Town could be one of a number of clubs Birmingham owner David Sullivan may attempt to invest in should his reported attempt to buy West Ham fall through. The Blues, Norwich, Cardiff, Leicester and Charlton are all claimed to be possible alternatives in a highly speculative piece.
Sullivan was previously linked with a move for Town prior to Marcus Evans taking control of the club, although the Blues denied ever receiving any interest from the Daily Sport proprietor. Sullivan's sale of Birmingham City to Carson Yeung is close to being completed.