Portugal players celebrate
Portugal players celebrate Joao Felix's goal against Norway(Image: Marius Nordnes/Nordnes Foto)
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It feels as if we should have one week remaining of the international break but there is still a fortnight more.
We're only a third into the extended three-week break with Chelsea not in action until October 10. That feels like a lifetime away, but Xabi Alonso will at least be able to keep a close eye on his players representing their countries.
Alonso would have been impressed with what he saw from one of his favourites. Pedro Neto, who has started four out of the opening five Premier League fixtures this season under the Spaniard, played a huge role in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway on Sunday.
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It took the Portuguese less than 17 minutes to open the scoring in Oslo. Neto has mostly been used as a right wing-back this season for Chelsea but Jorge Jesus used him on the left side of attack in Norway's capital.
And the Blues star made an immediate impact, running down the left wing before pulling the ball back, excellently, to former Chelsea attacker Joao Felix at the edge of the box. Felix, who had two unsuccessful spells at Stamford Bridge, side-footed the ball brilliantly into the bottom corner.
Pedro Neto in action for Portugal
Pedro Neto in action for Portugal against Norway(Image: Adam Escada/Eurasia Sport Images)
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Felix has started the season off in excellent fashion for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The 26-year-old has scored six goals for club and country at the start of the season (in all competitions), while assisting three times as well.
Elsewhere, England were beaten by world champions Spain on Saturday evening at Wembley. Morgan Rogers is the only Chelsea representative in the Three Lions squad after Cole Palmer pulled out due to a muscular injury and Reece James was not available for selection because of a hamstring issue.
Rogers came off the bench on 70 minutes, replacing Anthony Gordon with the score level at 2-2 at the time. Mikel Oyarzabal, though, scored a beautifully-taken winner for the visitors in London.
For the Netherlands, Jorrel Hato was an unused substitute in their 2-1 victory away in Serbia. Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven started at left-back for Xavi Hernandez in the newly-appointed manager's first victory in charge of the Dutch.
Josh Acheampong scored and assisted in England Under-21s' victory over Kazakhstan U21s on Friday evening. It was an excellent display from the young Chelsea defender, who was named as the Player of the Match, but it wasn't all good news for Alonso.
Josh Acheampong
Josh Acheampong scored and assisted in England Under-21s win over Kazakhstan U21s(Image: Charlotte Tattersall - The FA)
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Jamie Gittens suffered an injury and left on crutches on Friday night. Gittens will now return to Cobham for further tests and a scan to discover the extent of his latest problem.
Geovany Quenda, meanwhile, impressed for Portugal U21s in their defeat to Bulgaria U21s on Friday. The 19-year-old winger played around 88 minutes, which is a massive boost for the teenager given his lack of playing time for Chelsea's first team so far this term.