A record-equalling 18 players Brentford players are away with their nations this month.
14 players have been selected for senior action which includes European Championship qualifiers, the decisive round of matches for next January’s Africa Cup of Nations, and the start of the CONCACAF Nations League, while four young Bees are away with their nations’ youth teams.
Take a look at the full list of players and their upcoming fixtures below.
Thomas Strakosha – Albania
With six points from their opening three European Championship qualifiers, Albania are currently second in Group E ahead of two tough tests this week.
They make the trip to Eden Arena on Thursday 7 September to take on Czechia before welcoming Poland to Air Albania Stadium on Sunday 10 September.
Strakosha has made 22 appearances for his nation, earning his most recent cap in March.
Bryan Mbeumo – Cameroon
It all comes down to this for Cameroon and their hopes of qualifying for January’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Indomitable Lions host Burundi at the Infinity groupe Stadium in Garoua on Tuesday 12 September, with the winner guaranteeing their spot in the Ivory Coast next month.
Mbeumo, who is Brentford’s top scorer this season with four goals, has one international goal in his nine appearances for Cameroon so far.
Yoane Wissa – DR Congo
Yoane Wissa and DR Congo also have their Africa Cup of Nations destiny in their own hands ahead of Saturday’s home game against Sudan at the Stade Des Martyrs, Kinshasa.
A draw against Group I’s bottom side would be enough to qualify while they could even go through with a defeat, so long as the game between Mauritania and Gabon ends all square.
Following Saturday’s game, the Leopards head to Orlando Stadium, Soweto, for a friendly against South Africa on Tuesday 12 September.
Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen – Denmark
Denmark continue their European Championship qualifying campaign with games against San Marino at Parken, Copenhagen, on Thursday 7 September, and against Finland at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on Sunday 10 September.
San Marino are currently pointless from their four matches while Finland top Group H with nine points from their four games, two points clear of the Danes.
Norgaard’s 20 caps have all come while at Brentford while Jensen is the club’s most-capped international - his 24 caps earned since he joined the Bees in 2019.
Michael Olakigbe – England Under-20s
Michael Olakigbe will spend this international break at St George’s Park.
The winger, who made his Premier League debut on Saturday, is part of Joe Edwards’ 24-player group which has been selected in preparation for the new Under-20 Elite League which begins in October.
Kevin Schade – Germany
European Championship hosts Germany continue their preparations for next summer’s tournament with home friendlies against Japan on Saturday 9 September, at the Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, and then at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, against France on Tuesday 12 September.
Schade has played twice for Germany’s senior team, grabbing an assist on his second outing against Belgium in March.
Saman Ghoddos – IR Iran
Freshly back at Brentford, Saman Ghoddos has two friendlies to look forward to with Iran this week.
Team Melli travel to Stadion Hristo Botev, Plovdiv, to take on Bulgaria this Thursday 7 September, before returning to Tehran for a game against Angola on Tuesday 12 September.
Ghoddos has earned 34 caps for Iran, scoring twice.
Ethan Pinnock – Jamaica
The Reggae Boyz begin their CONCACAF Nations League A campaign with home games at the National Stadium Independence Park, Kingston, against Honduras on Saturday 9 September, and Haiti on Wednesday 13 September.
Pinnock has six caps for Jamaica who reached the Gold Cup semi-final in the summer.
Ji-soo Kim – Korea Republic
Ji-soo Kim could make his senior international debut this week.
The defender has received his first call-up to the Korea Republic senior squad as they play friendlies against Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday 7 September, and then against Saudi Arabia at St James’ Park on Tuesday 12 September.
The summer arrival has been a mainstay of Korea’s age group squads but now gets his first chance to impress at senior level.
Mark Flekken – Netherlands
Mark Flekken will become Brentford’s first Netherlands international should he feature in either of their European Championship qualifiers this month.
Ronald Koeman’s side have some ground to make up in Group B, but have games against Greece at the Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, on Thursday 7 September and Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Sunday 10 September to look forward to this week.
The last of Flekken’s four caps came in June 2022 but he has been involved in the matchday squad for all of Holland’s games in 2023.
Frank Onyeka – Nigeria
Nigeria complete their successful Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign with a game against Group A minnows Sao Tome and Principe on Sunday 10 September, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Already qualified for the finals next January, victory would ensure top spot for the Super Eagles.
Onyeka has 12 caps for his nation, having featured in each of their last three qualifiers.
Kristoffer Ajer – Norway
Kristoffer Ajer is back in the Norway squad for the first time since last September.
The defender has 27 caps to his name and will look to add to that as Norway face Jordan in a friendly on Thursday 7 September, at the Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, before their European Championship qualifier at the same ground against Georgia next Tuesday 12 September.
With four points from their opening four games, Norway can’t afford too many more slip ups in their pursuit of a place in Germany next summer.
Nathan Collins – Republic of Ireland
Nathan Collins and Republic of Ireland face two huge tests in Group B of European Championship qualifying this week.
First up at the Parc des Princes on Thursday 7 September are World Cup finalists France, before they host Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday 10 September.
On three points from three matches, Ireland’s qualifying hopes rest on picking up some points this week.
Aaron Hickey – Scotland
Scotland could all but secure their place in Germany next summer with victory over Group A’s bottom side Cyprus at the AEK Arena on Friday night.
Perfect from their four games so far, another win would put even more space between the Tartan Army and the chasing pack.
Following that game, Scotland return to Hampden Park to face England on Tuesday 12 September, in a 150th anniversary heritage match.
Hickey has started all four of Scotland’s wins in qualifying, taking his tally of caps to 10.
Yehor Yarmoliuk – Ukraine Under-21s
Qualifying for the Under-21 European Championships in Slovakia in 2025 gets underway for Yarmoliuk and Ukraine next week.
Before that, on Friday 8 September, Ukraine travel to Germany for a friendly.
They then get qualification underway with a game against Northern Ireland on Tuesday 12 September, at the Futbalový Stadion NTC Poprad in Slovakia.
Yarmoliuk has four caps for Ukraine’s U21s, the most recent coming back in May 2021.
Fin Stevens – Wales Under-21s
Wales Under-21s also face a friendly and a qualifier this week.
First up it is Liechtenstein at Rodney Parade, Newport, on Friday 8 September, before their qualifying match at the Jonava City Stadium in Lithuania on Tuesday 12 September.
Wales drew their opening game 2-2 against Denmark, a match which saw Stevens earn his 12th cap for Matt Jones’ side.
Iwan Morgan – Wales Under-19s
A deadline day arrival from Swansea City, Iwan Morgan has earned his first call-up for Wales U19s.
A prolific scorer for Wales’ U17s, with 10 goals in eight games, Morgan has been included for a pair of friendlies against Finland at the Jari Litmanen Arena on Friday 8 September, and Monday 11 September, in preparation for the start of European Championship qualifying later this year.