Brentford International Call-Ups: Every Player Selected for September and October
· Yahoo Sports
Brentford have 14 players called up for international duty during the extended September and early October break, with Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode among those hoping to make their senior debuts for their national teams.
Visit forestarrow.help for more information.
Keith Andrews’ side signed off in style from Premier League duty, with a 3-0 win over Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Bees remained unbeaten through the opening five fixtures of their league campaign, with much of the squad now spending the next couple of weeks with their national team.
Eleven first-team players have been selected at senior level, while Jannik Schuster, Ji-soo Kim and academy forward Jai Nwosu are also involved at youth level.
For Janelt and Kayode in particular, it could be a significant break.
Kevin Schade and Vitaly Janelt - Germany
Brentford will have two players involved in Jürgen Klopp’s first international window as Germany head coach, although Schade and Janelt are due to feature in different halves of it.
Schade has been recalled after his impressive start to the Premier League season and is part of the group facing the Netherlands and Greece. Janelt will then join up ahead of the games against Serbia and Greece after earning his first senior call-up for Germany at 28.
Schade: Netherlands (A), 24 September; Greece (H), 27 September.
Janelt: Serbia (H), 1 October; Greece (A), 4 October.
Michael Kayode - Italy
Kayode has also been handed his first senior call-up.
The Brentford right-back is one of nine uncapped players selected by Roberto Mancini and has previously represented Italy at the age-group level. Italy have four Nations League games in the window, starting at home against Belgium before trips to Türkiye and France.
Fixtures: Belgium (H), 25 September; Türkiye (A), 28 September; France (A), 2 October; Türkiye (H), 5 October.
Caoimhín Kelleher - Republic of Ireland
Kelleher remains part of the Republic of Ireland squad again and is the only Brentford player involved this time.
Republic of Ireland captain, Nathan Collins, would normally join him, but the defender has been ruled out of all four Nations League fixtures. An injury forced the Bees captain off inside the opening 20 minutes during the Bees’ draw against Sunderland and he has yet to return to the Brentford squad. Ireland begin away to Kosovo and will play four times before the window closes.
Fixtures: Kosovo (A), 24 September; Israel (N), 27 September; Austria (H), 1 October; Israel (N), 4 October.
Kristoffer Ajer - Norway
Ajer returns to Norway duty after playing a significant part in Brentford’s unbeaten start to the season.
The defender has 57 senior caps and is again included by Ståle Solbakken for a Nations League group, after playing his part in Norway’s impressive World Cup run.
Fixtures: Denmark (H), 24 September; Portugal (H), 27 September; Wales (A), 1 October; Portugal (A), 4 October.
Mikkel Damsgaard - Denmark
There could be an early Brentford reunion when Damsgaard’s Denmark travel to face Ajer and Norway in their opening game.
Damsgaard remains part of Brian Riemer’s midfield group and will then face Wales and Portugal before another meeting with the Welsh in Cardiff.
Fixtures: Norway (A), 24 September; Wales (H), 27 September; Portugal (H), 1 October; Wales (A), 4 October.
Aaron Hickey - Scotland
Hickey has retained his Scotland place as a new era begins under Sébastien Pocognoli.
The defender is part of an extended 28-man squad for four Nations League matches and will be hoping to add to his 22 senior caps after working his way back into regular international contention following his long injury absence.
Fixtures: Slovenia (A), 26 September; Switzerland (H), 29 September; North Macedonia (A), 3 October; Slovenia (H), 6 October.
Hákon Valdimarsson - Iceland
Valdimarsson is one of three goalkeepers in Iceland’s squad.
Iceland begin their Nations League campaign at home to Estonia before travelling to Luxembourg, with Bulgaria and another meeting with Estonia following in October.
Fixtures: Estonia (H), 26 September; Luxembourg (A), 29 September; Bulgaria (H), 3 October; Estonia (A), 6 October.
Mamadou Sangaré - Mali
Sangaré will switch Premier League football for Africa Cup of Nations qualifying after being included in Mali’s 26-man squad.
The midfielder is set to face Cape Verde and Liberia in competitive games before Mali finish their break with a friendly against Tunisia.
Fixtures: Cape Verde (H), 25 September; Liberia (A), 29 September; Tunisia, 3 October.
Dango Ouattara - Burkina Faso
Ouattara remains one of Burkina Faso’s established attacking options as they begin their bid to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Brentford forward has been selected for games against Benin and the Central African Republic, with the second fixture taking place in Casablanca.
Fixtures: Benin (H), 25 September; Central African Republic (N), 28 September.
El Hadji Malick Diouf - Senegal
Diouf is part of Patrick Vieira’s first Senegal squad.
The Lions of Teranga begin AFCON qualification against Mozambique and Ethiopia before completing their break with a friendly against Comoros in Marseille. Diouf is one of nine defenders selected in Vieira’s 29-man group.
Fixtures: Mozambique, 25 September; Ethiopia, 29 September; Comoros, 4 October.
Brentford’s Youth Internationals
Jannik Schuster - Austria Under-21s
Schuster’s breakthrough at Brentford has been accompanied by regular involvement with Austria Under-21s.
The defender has already played three times in the current European Championship qualifying campaign and is in line to feature in two important games against Denmark and Wales.
Fixtures: Denmark U21 (H), 2 October; Wales U21 (A), 6 October.
Ji-soo Kim - South Korea Under-23s
Kim’s international break began earlier than most of his Brentford teammates.
The centre-back is already in Japan with South Korea at the Asian Games, where he played the full 90 minutes and helped create the opening goal in a 4-1 victory over Qatar. South Korea face Saudi Arabia in their final group game, with the knockout stages to follow if they progress.
Next fixture: Saudi Arabia U23, 22 September.
Jai Nwosu - England Under-17s
Nwosu completes Brentford’s international contingent after being named in Barry Lewtas’ 28-player England Under-17 squad.
The academy forward will have four opportunities to feature, beginning against the Republic of Ireland at St George’s Park before England travel to Germany for matches against Israel, Venezuela and the hosts.
Fixtures: Republic of Ireland U17, 23 September; Israel U17, 28 September; Venezuela U17, 1 October; Germany U17, 4 October.
Brentford won't return to Premier League action until the trip to Aston Villa on 10 October, giving Andrews time to work with those who remain in west London while a sizeable group heads across Europe, Africa and Asia.
For Janelt and Kayode, the break could bring a first senior cap. For others, including Schade, Damsgaard, Ajer and Kelleher, it is another international window before attention turns back to Brentford’s unbeaten start when the squad reconvenes.