Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe knows he will be working with a limited group of players over in Saudi Arabia next week.
The Magpies chief is not expecting stars like Callum Wilson, Nick Pope or Kieran Trippier to be available for the first game back in the League Cup against AFC Bournemouth. And the likes of Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes may also face longer stints in the Middle East with Switzerland and Brazil respectively.
Howe urged all of his players to make the most of the unprecedented mid-season break last month. And he knows things will get tougher again in the summer when there is a short turnaround between the end of the 2022/23 season and the start of the 23/24 campaign.
Howe said: "I think this break has been important especially when you fast forward to next summer when I don't think the break will be long at all. So players do need a mental break.
"Even the guys that go to the World Cup will at some stage need a chance to refresh. "It's very difficult to go so consistently without that breather.
"So the players should have utilised it well and keep themselves fit. There will be ways to monitor their fitness and make sure they come back in good shape."
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