A number of Everton players will continue to train at Finch Farm during the international break
Everton players training at Finch Farm
Everton players training at Finch Farm
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We’ve waited later than in previous years for it to arrive, but the first international break of the season is upon us and it’s the biggest one ever. Following their 1-0 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday, Everton are unbeaten this term in seven matches in all competitions, but they are now in the midst of a 23-day lay-off until they return to action at Hull City on October 11.
Asked about it in his pre-match press conference to preview the Suffolk side’s trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium, Blues boss David Moyes said: “I don’t think anybody can have any really big thoughts on it because it’s never happened before. I’d be surprised if it was a benefit from where we are, I think we’d rather the league continue.
“We do have international breaks, but this is the longest one I can remember. Certainly, it’s the first time we’ve ever gone for three weeks during the season.
“I think we’ll all have to get on with it. We’ve got no choice.”
In between, the likes of England are playing four games in the UEFA Nations League as the Three Lions take on Spain (home, September 26), Czechia (away, September 29), Croatia (away, October 3) and Czechia (home October 6). Everton have got 11 players away on international duty.
They are as follows: Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner, Jordan Pickford (England); Braiden Graham (Northern Ireland); Jake O’Brien (Republic of Ireland); Vitalii Mykolenko (Ukraine); Brennan Johnson, Tom King (Wales); Tyler Dibling, Tyrique George (England U21) and Harrison Armstrong (England U20).
One of those, Graham, isn’t even part of Moyes’ senior squad as such. Although the 18-year-old has been named among the substitutes by the Blues boss on four occasions so far this term, he is yet to make his first-team debut and was not including on the 2026/27 team photograph revealed this week.
That leaves 11 players staying back at Finch Farm, although two of those, Christian Norgaard and Merlin Rohl are both currently injured. The nine fit players currently at Moyes’ disposal are: Charly Alcaraz; Thierno Barry; Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall; Jack Grealish; Hayden Hackney; Michael Keane; Ainsley Maitland-Niles; James Tarkowski and Mark Travers.
Moyes, who is understood to be planning a behind-closed-doors match with Championship side Blackburn Rovers, was also asked about what he’ll do with the squad members that remain.
He said: “We moan quite a lot around Christmas time because we play too much football. So, now we have an opportunity to give the players more rest time.
“Certainly not international players. If you’re an international player, then you’ve got to deal with it all. But the other players who are not in that situation might have a bigger opportunity to get more down time and train differently at different times and I’m guessing most clubs will be preparing their own in-house games.”