Express & Star

Ten international call-ups for Wolves stars

Wolves have a two-week break from league action before they host Burnley on September 15.

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But for a number of their squad there'll be no break whatsoever as they head off to play for their countries.

Of Wolves' matchday 18 at West Ham on Saturday, eight have been called up for international duty.

Unsurprisingly Portugal's various age groups feature heavily, with Ruben Neves headlining the list after he was recalled to the full squad.

Neves missed the cut for the World Cup in Russia this summer, with boss Fernando Santos preferring Leicester's Adrien Silva, but Neves is back now albeit in an experimental squad.

Fellow Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho has been rested for Portugal's two home games against Croatia (friendly) and Italy (the inaugural UEFA Nations League). Goalkeeper Rui Patricio is in the squad and will earn his 74th cap when he next features.

Ruben Vinagre, fresh from being part of the side that won the Under-19 European Championship this summer, moves up to the Under-20 squad for friendly matches against the Netherlands (home) and Czech Republic (away) as boss Helio Sousa begins preparations for next summer's Under-20 World Cup in Poland.

In the Portugal Under-21 squad is Diogo Jota who will take part in qualifying matches for the Under-21 European Championship. They face Romania in Portugal on Friday before Jota returns early to Britain for a game in Bangor against Wales next Tuesday.

Matt Doherty is one of two players to start all five of Wolves' matches so far this season but there's no rest for the hard-working wing back who has been called up to the Ireland squad.

Martin O'Neill's team face Wales in the Nations League on Thursday and then Poland in a friendly on Tuesday.

Doherty has Everton's Seamus Coleman and Fulham Cyrus Christie as competition as he looks to win a third cap for his country.

Raul Jimenez was with Mexico for the World Cup and remains in their squad for games against Uruguay (being played in Houston) and the USA (in Tennessee).

Also travelling far is midfielder Romain Saiss whose Morocco team face Malawi in Casablanca in an African Cup of Nations qualifier.

And the final member of Saturday's squad to be called up is Morgan Gibbs-White.

The teenage midfielder is now part of the Under-19 setup with England and their boss Keith Downing, a former Wolves midfielder himself, has called up Gibbs-White for friendly matches against the Netherlands and Belgium.

Leander Dendoncker made his Wolves debut last week and he's in the Belgium squad for friendly against Scotland (away) and a Nations League clash versus Iceland next Tuesday.

Finally, young midfielder Elliot Watt, fresh from making his Wolves debut, is in the Scotland Under-19 squad for two matches in Poland either side of the weekend.