Aston Villa: Villans on international duty – September 2018

Let’s run through all Aston Villa players on international duty for the month of September.

Despite unrelenting scrutiny at Aston Villa, and possible international retirement, Australia captain Mile Jedinak was named in Graham Arnold’s first Socceroos squad. Jedi & Co. linked-up in Turkey for a week-long training camp with no games attached. The 2019 AFC Asian Cup last all of January until the final on February 1st.

As captain, it’s wise to assume Jedinak is going to miss 5+ weeks beginning near the holiday period. I assume Villa were aware of this before they shipped out Tommy Elphick?

Fellow central defender James Chester is back with Wales, under the management of Ryan Giggs. Chester is a good bet to start in one or both of Wales’ UEFA Nations League matches against Denmark and Ireland. Of note, Denmark is in a serious row between the Federation and Player’s Union – one that could see their friendlies cancelled all together.

Just like the World Cup, Birkir Bjarnason is back with Iceland. This time, under new management in a post-World Cup cycle. Iceland face Switzerland and Belgium on September 8th and 11th, respectively, in the UEFA Nations League. It’s largely a veteran Iceland squad.

Ahmed Elmohamady re-joins Egypt for a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier vs. Niger. The Pharaohs need a win to keep pace with Group J leaders Tunisia. There’s a good article, here, on Elmo’s thoughts and memories from a difficult World Cup in Russia.

Jonathan Kodjia, now healthy, returns to the Golden Elephants of the Côte d’Ivoire national football team. They face Rwanda of September 7th in an AFCON qualifier. Ligue 1 forwards Maxwel Cornet and Nicolas Pépé are Kodjia’s competition.

John McGinn was a call-up to Scotland’s upcoming matches against Belgium and Albania later this week. Probably a less-than-ideal time after suffering a minor knock and fighting through it in Villa’s 4-1 defeat to Sheffield United.

Conor Hourihane makes Martin O’Neill’s preliminary squad for UEFA Nations League matches against Wales and Poland on the 6th and 11th. His 31-man team will probably be reduced some before the first match, but Hourihane should dress for the games.

Ørjan Nyland links-up with Norway for matches against Cyprus and Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League. Nyland, 27 caps, routinely rotates with fellow national team ‘keeper, Rune Jarstein of Hertha Berlin.

On the youth end, a pair of Aston Villa players make the England teams:

Easah Suliman, despite not featuring at FC Emmen yet, continues at under-20 level, where he sometimes captains. New loan signing from Chelsea, Tammy Abraham, headlines the under-21 squad.