The current international break is certainly one of the stranger ones with European nations not having any fixtures scheduled during the last fortnight.
When Leeds United travel to face Aston Villa next Wednesday, it will have been 18 days since their last match.
It is a break that has been welcomed by the Whites as the crippling injury problems within the squad have, hopefully, subsided to some degree.
At the same time though, it has disrupted the rhythm that comes with being involved in a Premier League relegation battle and it is imperative that they are able to recapture it next week.
Their opponents, Aston Villa, have been ensuring that their players have been able to maintain their match fitness with a couple of behind-closed-doors friendlies organised during the break.
On Tuesday afternoon, they ran out 2-1 winners against Brentford thanks to goals from Danny Ings and Tyrone Mings as both Robin Olsen and Calum Chambers played with their new team mates for the first time.
They have now confirmed that they will play another friendly at the weekend in the absence of an FA Cup fourth round match.
Steven Gerrard’s side will face Norwegian side Molde at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon and will use it as preparation for the visit of Leeds on Wednesday.
Like Villa, Leeds are also without a fixture this weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup by West Ham last month.
However, it is understood that similar friendlies have not been arranged at Elland Road. Given the situation at the club regarding injuries at present, that seems to be wise decision and even without that, Marcelo Bielsa is unlikely to be someone who values such games.
For him, he will be more than satisfied with the chance to work on his squad over the last couple of weeks without interruption.
The only player that has missed out on those training sessions is Raphinha who, after his first half of the season, is hardly in need of any significant improvement.
Although, Bielsa might not have the Brazilian winger available next week as, in typical Leeds fashion, he limped out of his nation’s 4-0 win against Paraguay with only a handful of minutes left.
Whether or not he is available, it is a match that the Whites really need a result from considering the tough run of fixtures that succeed the trips to Villa Park and Goodison Park.
