WITH a big game coming up at Arsenal in the Premier League, the last thing Steve Bruce wants is 13 players away on international duty.
But it's a compliment to the club to have so many internationals playing for them.
Bruce will have been following their progress and crossing his fingers, hoping they all come back safe and well.
It didn't leave him with much to work with on the training ground, but I'm sure he'll have managed to get a lot of technical stuff and fitness work done.
It can be as much a hindrance as a help for the club, but you can never stand in the way of players representing their country.
When so many players go away to play for their countries, there is a fear some will come back injured, or suffer heavy defeats that can linger in their minds.
But early reports suggest nobody has picked up a serious injury and, by and large, the players all enjoyed good results.
James Chester played well in both games for Wales, who top their qualifying group, and playing alongside Gareth Bale will have been a brilliant experience for him and the rest of the Welsh team.
Any habits he picks up from Bale will help not only Chester, but also Hull City too.
The Republic of Ireland are joint top of their group thanks to the efforts of Stephen Quinn and David Meyler.
Meyler filled in at right-back for Martin O'Neill's side as they took a point from their trip to World Champions Germany, who seem to be suffering from a World Cup hangover.
I don't think we'll see him play there for City any time soon, but at least Bruce knows he can do a job there if he needs an emergency right-back.
Andy Robertson enhanced his reputation for Scotland in their 1-0 win over Georgia that keeps Gordon Strachan's men in touch with joint-leaders Ireland and Poland at the top of Group D.
He is proving to be a fantastic asset for Bruce and these international breaks will teach him so much.
Maynor Figueroa may not be able to get a game for the Tigers at the moment, but he scored Honduras' equaliser in a 1-1 draw with the USA in Landon Donovan's final game for the States.
They will be buzzing when they get back to training, recapping on their experiences abroad.
And that's great ahead of a tricky trip to the Emirates on Saturday against an Arsenal side that has had a fortnight to dwell on their 2-0 defeat at Chelsea last time out.
Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho almost came to blows on that occasion. I can't see Wenger doing the same with Bruce.
However, while the players are buzzing, fatigue will play a part and outweighs the feel-good factor.
We saw Raheem Sterling ask his international manager to rest him because he was tired.
Some people have criticised him, finding it hard to believe a player who is earning so much money can be tired so early in the season.
I have plenty of sympathy for him. He's a young player and we have to make sure we look after talented kids like him.
He is one of the brightest players we have had in years and we do not want him to burn out before he has reached his peak.
Sir Alex Ferguson was brilliant at nurturing his stars and made sure Wayne Rooney didn't burn out.
Expectation levels on Sterling have increased since he burst onto the scene and he needs to be protected.
Bruce is experienced enough to know how to look after his players in the wake of an international break and I'm sure the team that takes the field against Arsenal will be fit and raring to go.
Every player will give 100 per cent and the fact it's against a big side like Arsenal is enough to motivate all players.
City tend to raise their game against the sides at the top of the table and Bruce will hope that is the case on Saturday when they visit north London.
If he sees fatigue in any of his troops, he has a squad big enough now to give them a rest.
City will capitalise on the buzz surrounding the squad and who knows, maybe come away from the Emirates with another famous win.
