INTERNATIONAL ROUNDUP

A large number of Sunderland's first-team squad went overseas to serve their nations during the September international break. With the Lads now playing their football in the top flight, our internationals are a lot more high-profile now!

TRAI HUME - NORTHERN IRELAND

Trai Hume captained his country against both Luxembourg and Germany, playing the full 90 minutes in both games. Against Luxembourg Northern Ireland won 3-1 whereas they were defeated by the same scoreline in Koln.

ROBIN ROEFS - NETHERLANDS

Roefs was named as substitute in both games for his first ever senior call-up to the Netherlands national team. He remained on the bench as the Dutch drew 1-1 with Poland before defeating Lithuania 3-2.

GRANIT XHAKA - SWITZERLAND

32-year-old Xhaka captained his country in both home fixtures over the break, leading the team to a 4-0 win over Kosovo before also dictating play in their 3-0 win against Slovenia.

The midfielder's high standards were on full display after Switzerland beat Kosovo, showcasing his leadership qualities and winning mentality which explain why he walked into the SoL and was given the captain's armband. He said: “Our first half was almost perfect. We saw a very strong Switzerland. This victory sends a strong message to everyone. We didn’t completely manage to stick to the plan, though. We see that we have very young players, and we need to improve in this area. It’s essential at this level. That must be our ultimate goal. The question is not whether we could have scored more goals, even if we need to take care of the goal average which can ultimately be important, but to understand how to better hold our positions throughout a match so as not to put ourselves in danger.

“We didn’t always live up to expectations. I often heard, before facing Kosovo, that the Swiss team was no longer the team of the previous three years. And that really annoyed me. That’s why at the beginning of this meeting [international break], we all spoke very openly. We agreed that this was no time for speeches, that we had no time to waste. We have to deliver, and now!”

ARTHUR MASUAKU/NOAH SADIKI - DR CONGO

Both of our DR Congo representatives had a successful time away with their nation. Firstly, Sadiki played 90 minutes in their 4-1 win in South Sudan whilst Masuaku served a yellow-card suspension. Then, Masuaku played the full 90 against Senegal with Sadiki providing an assist in the 74 minutes he was on the pitch. DR Congo went 2-0 up in the game but capitulated and lost 3-2, leaving them two points behind the group leaders in World Cup qualification.

HABIB DIARRA - SENEGAL

Meanwhile, Diarra played an hour in Senegal's 2-0 win over Sudan before then coming off the bench to help his country come back against DR Congo and move to the top of Group B.

REINILDO MANDAVA - MOZAMBIQUE

Reinildo began the break by playing the full 90 in Mozambique's 4-0 defeat to Uganda, but then kept a clean sheet in their 2-0 home win over Botswana. Reinildo is aiming to help Mozambique qualify for their first ever World Cup tournament.

CHEMSDINE TALBI - MOROCCO

The Moroccan winger made his senior international debut, a 13-minute cameo in a 5-0 win over Niger to seal World Cup qualification. He was then an unused sub in his country's 2-0 victory over Zambia to take their qualification record to seven wins out of seven.

SIMON ADINGRA - IVORY COAST

Adingra assisted the only goal in his country's 1-0 win against Burundi, before coming off the bench in their goalless draw with Gabon which keeps The Elephants top of Group F by one point.

OMAR ALDERETE - PARAGUAY

The classy defender played 90 minutes in both fixtures over the break and did not concede a single goal. Firstly, he helped see out a 0-0 draw with Ecuador which earned World Cup qualification before then defeating Peru 1-0.

BERTRAND TRAORE - BURKINA FASO

Traore, who is yet to make an appearance for Sunderland after arriving on deadline day, was an unused substitute for his country in their 6-0 win over Djibouti before leading the line in a 0-0 draw against Egypt.

ELIEZER MAYENDA - SPAIN U21

Mayenda played an hour in Spain under-21s' 3-0 victory over Cyprus before again starting in their 3-1 win over Kosovo. He was involved in the opener, driving forward with the ball which we see regularly at Sunderland, before being subbed late in the game.

CHRIS RIGG - ENGLAND U19

Riggy featured in three games for England at youth level which, given his lack of game time so far domestically, should help him build up fitness for the Premier League. He made an appearance off the bench in the Young Lions' 3-0 victory over Ukraine before starting and captaining the side against Spain (draw) and the Netherlands (win).

TIMUR TUTIEROV - UKRAINE U21

It was a proud moment for Tutierov, who made his first start for Ukraine Under-21s as they beat Lithuania 4-0.

IVAN STRUK - LATVIA U19

Similarly, Struk made his debut for Latvia's Under-19s in their 3-0 victory against Malta.