Striker Shefki Kuqi has been called up for Finland's World Cup qualifier with the Czech Republic on Saturday in Teplice. Kuqi will win his 38th cap for his adopted country if he plays against the Czechs.

The Blues have a number of players away with international squads this week. Lewis Price and Jaime Peters are away with respectively the Wales and Canada full squads.

The Welsh play two World Cup qualifiers with Austria in Cardiff on March 26th and then in Vienna on March 30th. The Town keeper is unlikely to play on his first call into the full squad.

Canada have a friendly with Portugal is Barcelos next Saturday with Jaime Peters likely to play some role. Jason De Vos is not in the squad having asked if he can be left out of Canada's friendlies for the remainder of this season.

Darren Bent is in the England U21 squad for two UEFA European U21 Championship, Group Six qualifiers.

Peter Taylor's side take on Germany at Hull's KC Stadium, where Bent has already scored twice for the U21s, on Friday and Azerbaijan at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on the following Tuesday.

Academy striker Darryl Knights is in the England U17 squad for three UEFA European Championship qualifiers. Knights has already won seven caps at U17 level.

England take on Serbia and Montenegro at Stoke on on Saturday, then Northern Ireland at Wolves two days later and complete their fixtures against the Republic of Ireland on March 30th at Walsall.

On-loan Dean Bowditch is also in action, for the England U19s in the UEFA European Championship Elite Qualifying Round.

England face Denmark at Crewe on Saturday, then Sweden at Bury on Monday, before completing their fixtures with a match against Moldova at Blackpool on March 30th.

Photo: Action Images

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