Hull City place high value on rest in Premier League's international break
Rest is Hull City's first priority of the international break, before some hard work trying to build on an excellent start to 2026-27.
Last season their Croatian coach Sergej Jakirovic was always very generous in the time off he granted those players not on international duty, and a three-week window in September/October makes it easy to continue that now.
The Tigers do not return to Premier League action until the visit of Everton on October 11.
So whilst Konstantinos Tzolakis and Christos Mouzakitis (Greece), Sorba Thomas (Wales), Oli McBurnie (Scotland), Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland), John Egan (Republic of Ireland), Elliot Stroud (Sweden), Mohamed Belloumi (Algeria), Nobel Mendy (Senegal), Semi Ajayi (Nigeria), Lucas Herrington (Australia), Jens Hjerto-Dahl (Norway Under-21s), Tilen Golic (Slovenia Under-19s) and Coist Walker (Northern Ireland Under-19s) will be away with their countries, the rest are not due to report until Monday.
Many will be involved in a friendly at home to Sheffield United the following Thursday.
"We've got a lot of boys that will go away with the international team, so good luck to them," said captain Lewie Coyle. "Hopefully they come back fit and healthy after a good campaign with their countries.
"For us boys that are not involved it's time to rest, recover, spend time with family and friends, which I certainly will be doing.
"And then back to work when we report back to the training ground."
With 18 players signed in the summer, six on deadline day, the extra time on the training ground will be important.
"The new players always take time to settle in," said Hull-born Coyle. "It's a new environment for them. That's part of my job as captain, to make sure they settle in sooner rather than later.
"The gaffer's been very kind in giving us a decent amount of time off, because that rest and recovery is very important. But when we're back in, it's back to work, working on bits that can improve us this season."
Jakirovic added: "It will be important for the new guys, the team also.
"With some we will freshen them, and then it's very important this friendly game that they have minutes, because they need it."
Hull have taken eight points from their first five games back in the Premier League – eight more than some pundits were predicting.