Club News

14 heed their country's call

Large Albion contingent away on international duty

ALBION have as many as 14 senior pros away on international duty.

World Cup qualifiers for Brazil 2014 get underway across Europe this week and James Morrison and Graham Dorrans, who both started against Everton on Saturday, have been called up by Scotland for their games against Serbia on Saturday and Macedonia on Tuesday – both in Glasgow.

The second qualifier will give the midfield duo their first chance to meet new team-mate Goran Popov (pictured above tussling with Shane Long), who signed on a season-long loan from Dynamo Kiev on Friday evening. Popov's Macedonia also travel to Croatia on Friday.

Chris Brunt and Gareth McAuley face a long trip with Northern Ireland to Russia on Friday before returning to home soil to entertain Luxembourg on Tuesday.

Shane Long, who opened the scoring against the Toffees, is in the Republic of Ireland’s squad for their trip to Kazakhstan on Friday and friendly against Oman on home soil on Tuesday.

Romelu Lukaku, who missed the victory over Everton with an ankle problem, will be hoping to be fit for Belgium’s double-header away to Wales on Friday and at home to Croatia on Tuesday.

The on-loan Chelsea striker will see a familiar face in Cardiff – because Boaz Myhill has been called up by Wales, who also travel to Serbia on Tuesday.

Jonas Olsson’s Sweden face a friendly at home to China on Thursday before they return to competitive action when they entertain Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Outside of Europe, Youssouf Mulumbu has made himself available again for DR Congo duty and they face Equatorial Guinea in Kinshasa on Sunday.

Gonzalo Jara Reyes has been selected by Chile for their game against Colombia on Tuesday while New Zealand striker Chris Wood faces fixtures against New Caledonia on Friday and the Solomon Islands on Tuesday.

At Under-21 level, Craig Dawson, fresh from his Team GB exploits at the Olympics, is with England Under-21s for their UEFA European Championship 2013 qualifiers away to Azerbaijan on Thursday and at home to Norway at Chesterfield on Monday.

Scott Allan faces games at home to Luxembourg on Thursday and away to Austria on Monday with Scotland Under-21s.