International Reds

MANUTD-A number of United players are away on international duty this week as the Reds take a break from a three-pronged trophy challenge. 

 Sir Alex will be hoping all his players return unscathed to ensure the injury problems affecting the squad are not exacerbated.

Wayne Rooney is United's sole representative in Fabio Capello’s England squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier in Wales (26 March) and Wembley friendly against Ghana (29 March). However, Chris Smalling and on-loan duo Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck have been included in Stuart Pearce’s Under-21 party for Thursday’s trip to Denmark and the match at Preston against Iceland next Monday.

Welbeck, who spent time at Preston on loan last season, will be hoping for another Deepdale run-out but will need to first shake off the injury that led to his substitution against Liverpool on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Serbia have confirmed Nemanja Vidic (calf injury) will miss the Group C qualifiers with Northern Ireland and Estonia, although Jonny Evans and on-loan Corry Evans are both in Nigel Worthington’s plans for the tie in Belgrade. The game is set to be played in front of only 200 travelling supporters due to a ban on home fans following crowd trouble that led to a recent qualifier in Italy being abandoned.

Patrice Evra has been recalled by former United defender Laurent Blanc for France’s games against Luxembourg and Croatia, while Nani will be a key figure for Portugal in their friendlies with Chile and Finland.

Further afield, Javier Hernandez is in Mexico’s squad for internationals against Paraguay and Venezuela with fit-again Antonio Valencia included for Ecuador’s friendlies with Colombia and Peru - although both of those fixtures will be played in Europe (Madrid and Amsterdam).

Darron Gibson is back with Republic of Ireland after scoring his first goal at international level against Wales last month, ahead of their matches with Macedonia and Uruguay in Dublin.

Mame Biram Diouf, who is on loan at Blackburn, is in Senegal’s squad for African Cup of Nations play-off against Cameroon.

There are Under-21 call-ups for Federico Macheda and Bebe with Italy facing Sweden and Germany and Portugal lining up against Republic of Ireland.

At a younger level, FA Youth Cup stars Ravel Morrison, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Tom Thorpe are in the England Under-19 squad with Sean McGinty and Robbie Brady representing Republic of Ireland in the same age group. Paul Pogba, fresh from another incredible strike at the weekend, is with France Under-20s and Marnick Vermijl is away with Belgium Under-19s.
Goalkeeper Joe Coll has been called up by Republic of Ireland’s Under-17s and Gyliano van Velzen is with Holland’s squad at the same level after being promoted from stand-by duty.