Tony Pulis: International friendlies 'a waste of space'

The Baggies' manager has been critical of the frequency and longevity of the breaks when his players are taken away from the club.

This current international break is the third of the season, but even more frustrating for Pulis is the fact that the majority of his players are off to play friendlies.

"I personally don't think that players should go away for friendly games," he said. "The week that they have now, that should be a coaching week.

Defensive trio Gareth McAuley, Jonny Evans and Chris Brunt have all been named in the Northern Ireland squad for their friendly against Latvia on Friday.

James Chester has been named in the Welsh squad that will face Holland on the same day.

Albion do not have any players in Hodgson's England squad but Pulis used the Three Lions as an example for the change he would like to see enacted.

"I think the players should be in with Roy, if Roy wants them for three or four days then let him coach and work with them," he said.

"He'll have a system that he'll want to put in place for the Euros, work on that system.

"Deal with the players, work with the players, get to know the players a little bit more. They've played enough games already, why do you want a friendly match? I think friendly games are a waste of space really."

Three of Albion's international players are playing in competitive fixtures. Winger James McClean is in the Irish squad facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in a two-leg play-off for a place at next year's European Championships. Salomon Rondon and Stephane Sessegnon each have two 2018 World Cup qualification games for Venezuela and Benin respectively.