How Man Utd Players Fared During October International Break

Manchester United had players in international action across the world during this month’s international break, which is now at an end.

Here’s a run down of how all the United first-teamers called up for international duty fared…

Brandon Williams (England Under-21)

Having been called up to England’s Under-21 squad for the first time, Brandon Williams made his debut for the junior side in a 3-3 draw against Andorra. The 20-year-old started at left-back and played the full 90 minutes of the European Championship qualifier.

He was then an unused substitute in the follow game against Turkey, which England won.

Daniel James (Wales)

Daniel James has been a permanent fixture of Ryan Giggs’ Wales squad since March 2019, but the United winger was only left on the bench for the Wembley friendly against England.

That was likely a deliberate choice by Giggs to rest him because James then went on to start both Nations League fixtures against Ireland, a 0-0 draw, and Bulgaria, a 1-0 win.

Scott McTominay (Scotland)

Scott McTominay continued playing as a centre-back for Scotland, just as he previously during the September international break. Given that United have issues in that department but are well stocked in midfield, it could open up a new avenue for him.

The 23-year-old played all 120 minutes of the Euro 2020 qualifier against Israel, as well as scoring in the 5-3 penalty shootout win. He also then went on to play every minute in the back-to-back Nations League 1-0 wins over both Slovakia and Czech Republic.

Victor Lindelof (Sweden)

Dropped by United but still a starter for Sweden, Victor Lindelof was initially only an unused substitute for the friendly against Russia that kicked off the international break.

The Swedes won that game, so Lindelof will be disappointed that his subsequent return to the team for the Nations League against Croatia and Portugal coincided with 2-1 and 3-0 defeats respectively.

Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)

Eric Bailly played in both of Ivory Coast’s friendlies this month, playing 70 minutes of a 1-1 draw against Belgium and then all 90 minutes of a 1-0 defeat to Japan.

There were concerns that Bailly had suffered a hamstring injury when he was withdrawn in the first game, although the player himself clarified afterwards it was only muscle fatigue.

Alex Telles (Brazil)

Yet to play for United since a £15.4m transfer deadline day switch from Porto, Alex Telles played a bit-part role as a substitute in both of Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru.

They were only the second and third international appearances of his career, having not been called up since March 2019 when he made his debut. Brazil beat Bolivia 5-0 and Peru 4-2.

Donny van de Beek (Netherlands)

Donny van de Beek was another of United’s new faces in action for his country, playing 90 minutes in two of Netherlands’ three international fixtures and even scoring a crucial goal.

The midfielder started in the ‘number 10’ role for the Dutch in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Mexico. He then sat on the bench for a 0-0 Nations League draw with Bosnia & Herzegovina, before returning to the lineup, this time on the right of midfield, and netting in 1-1 draw with Italy.

David de Gea (Spain)

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s loss in form has seen David de Gea regain his place as Spain’s starting goalkeeper for competitive internationals this season.

Kepa got the nod for the 0-0 friendly draw with Portugal, but De Gea came in for the Nations League games against Switzerland and Ukraine. The former was a 1-0 win, the latter a 1-0 defeat.

Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)

Portugal hit the headlines during the international break when Cristiano Ronaldo returned a positive coronavirus test after the reigning European champions played France. Fortunately for United, Bruno Fernandes and the rest of the squad all tested negative, despite contact with him.

Fernandes wasn’t involved for the 0-0 friendly against Spain. Instead, he was saved for the competitive Nations League games against France, another 0-0, and Sweden, a 3-0 win.

Anthony Martial & Paul Pogba (France)

Anthony Martial first earned a recall to the France squad last month, having been out of the fold since March 2018, and has now played in five consecutive internationals so far this season.

The United number nine was taken off at half time as France thrashed Ukraine 7-1 in a friendly, appeared as a substitute for the 0-0 Nations League draw against Portugal and lasted 63 minutes when he started the 2-1 win over Croatia.

Paul Pogba was also involved in all three games, marking his first international action since June 2019 as a result of injury and coronavirus. His only start came against Portugal, appearing off the bench in each of France’s other two games.

Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford & Dean Henderson (England)

Harry Maguire had an international break to forget on his return to the England squad, having previously been removed from the September squad when the guilty verdict came through from his assault trial in Greece.

It was a rotated England side that beat Wales 3-0, which meant Maguire was left on the bench. He then played 90 minutes as the Three Lions beat Belgium 2-1 in the Nations League and did okay, which was a welcome relief from his horrific club form.

But a red card after half an hour against Denmark, the result of two avoidable yellows, saw him trudge from the pitch with what looked like the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Marcus Rashford, also on the bench against Wales, started the Belgium game and scored England’s equaliser from the penalty spot in the comeback win. Then then played just over 70 minutes against Denmark but could do nothing to prevent the 1-0 defeat.

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson was named in the fourth England squad in a row since October 2019, although he was on the bench for all three games this month and is still awaiting his debut.

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