DES Buckingham is looking forward to working on some tactical details and a few days of rest during the international break.

Seven Oxford United players are flying away on international duty, and that will allow head coach Buckingham the chance to work more closely with the remaining players on an individual basis before then giving them some time off.

Louie Sibley scored an equaliser in the final 20 minutes as the U’s drew 1-1 at Portsmouth in their final game before the international break, and will next be in action when they welcome West Bromwich Albion to Grenoble Road on October 19.

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Buckingham said: “We’ll lose seven of them now to international duties. We’ve got so many that are going to fly out and go where they go, which will only leave us a 10-man training group anyway, so we will train with those players to a point.

“They’ll get a couple of days off where they can rest and recoup, to come back and go again because there’s only one more international window where we can do that.

“We’re all looking forward to a nice little break to then come back and welcome West Brom at home.”

He added: “It’s a chance for us to work with them maybe in a little bit more detail than we’re able to when there’s 25.

“I’m looking forward to that, they’re always good sessions, especially when they know there’s a break coming.”

Witney Gazette:

Four defenders from United’s backline will be away representing their countries, with Peter Kioso receiving his first international call-up by DR Congo.

The right back was initially on a standby list, but an injury to Ipswich Town defender Axel Tuanzebe saw Kioso included in the squad for a double-header of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.

Ciaron Brown is with the Northern Ireland squad for UEFA Nations League games in Belarus and at home against Bulgaria, while Greg Leigh is in the Jamaica set-up for their Concacaf Nations League fixtures against Nicaragua and Honduras.

Leicester City loanee Ben Nelson, plus striker Dane Scarlett, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, have both been named in England’s ‘Elite League’ squad, formerly the Under-20s, for matches against Italy and the Czech Republic.

Mark Harris is with the Wales camp for Nations League fixtures against Iceland and Montenegro after Wales head coach Craig Bellamy was at the Kassam Stadium to watch the U’s in their goalless draw against Burnley at the end of last month.

Summer signing Marselino Ferdinan rounds off those on international duty, with Indonesia for 2026 World Cup third round qualifying ties against Bahrain and China.