‘My fingers crossed’ – O’Neil on new three-week international break

Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil has voiced his concerns regarding an extended three-week international break, admitting he faces an anxious wait to see if his players avoid injuries. A club-record 10 first-team squad members have departed for international duty across the globe, with several scheduled to play up to three or four fixtures before returning to club action.

With the October and November international windows combined into a single three-week block, O'Neil plans a mid-break training camp for those remaining in Suffolk. Eleventh-place Ipswich will return to Premier League action at home against Fulham on Saturday, October 10, despite some key players not reporting back until late in the preparation week.