Boss Mick McCarthy believes the international break has come at the right for his squad, the Blues having climbed back into the top six via back-to-back 1-0 victories over Bolton Wanderers and Watford. Town are next in action when new leaders Bournemouth visit Portman Road on Good Friday with seven Championship games remaining.
"It’s a great time [for the international break]. I’m going to go on the lash for a couple of days, I think!” McCarthy joked after Saturday’s dramatic last-gasp victory at Watford.
"There’ll be some playing internationals and the lads will get next weekend off. They’ll be off Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. They need a break, they’ve had a lot of games and they’re great.”
While David McGoldrick has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland squad and Teddy Bishop has been withdrawn from the England U19s - McCarthy hopes both will be available after the break - plenty of other Town players will be away with international squads.
Daryl Murphy will be with the Republic of Ireland for their European Championships qualifier against Poland in Dublin in next Sunday.
Christophe Berra was named in the Scotland squad for their friendly against Northern Ireland on Wednesday and European Championships qualifier with Gibraltar next Sunday with both games at Hampden Park.
Loanee striker Chris Wood will be with New Zealand for a friendly against South Korea in Seoul on Tuesday 31st March and Kevin Bru with Mauritius, who have home friendlies against Burundi on Wednesday and Togo on Saturday.
Dylan Connolly has been called up by the Republic of Ireland U21s for their first European Championships qualifying round fixture against Andorra in Waterford on Thursday, while fellow youngsters Monty Patterson, Victor Guldbrandsen and Andre Dozzell will join up with the New Zealand U20s, Danish U18s and England U16s respectively next week.
McCarthy added: "I’m going scouting to watch Burundi and Togo against Mauritius to see Kevin Bru play. I’m not going really, I couldn’t swing that one!”
Meanwhile, Town's U21s are in action against Birmingham City at St Andrew's this evening (KO 7pm).
Elsewhere, Blues midfielder Adam McDonnell lost out to Huddersfield’s Danny Kane for the U17 International Player of the Year gong at the FAI International Football Awards in Dublin last night having been one of the three nominees.
McDonnell, 17, who has also won caps at U18 level, is yet to play a competitive game for Town at any level since signing from Shelbourne in September as he is still to receive clearance from FIFA due to red tape relating to his education.
Amongst the winners at the awards was former Blue Colin Healy, now back with Cork City, who was named the SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year.