30/08/2017 09:00, Report by Matt Bullin

The first international break of the 2017/18 campaign is upon us and no less than 16 Manchester United players have left the Aon Training Complex to represent their respective countries in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. We’ve rounded up all the fixtures you should look out for, and which of Jose Mourinho’s Reds will likely be in action…

ARGENTINA (SERGIO ROMERO)Romero is expected to start for Argentina in their upcoming matches away to Uruguay on Thursday, and at home to Venezuela five days later. Argentina currently sit fifth in a tightly congested South American group - two points behind Colombia in second, but only two points ahead of Antonio Valencia's Ecuador in sixth.

ARMENIA (HENRIKH MKHITARYAN)The fleet-footed attacker will look to carry his excellent early season form onto the international stage when he captains his country in Romania, where the sides will battle it out for the fourth-place spot in Group E, and then three days later in Yerevan when Armenia host Denmark.

BELGIUM (ROMELU LUKAKU, MAROUANE FELLAINI)Lukaku and Fellaini have been in fine form for United in the early stages of the season, and they are both likely to feature in Belgium’s World Cup qualifiers at home to Gibraltar and when they travel to Greece. Roberto Martinez’s side currently sit atop Group H with five wins from six games.

ECUADOR (ANTONIO VALENCIA)United’s flying full-back is expected to skipper his side against Brazil, who have already secured their place at Russia 2018, on Thursday night and again when Ecuador host Peru five days later. Valencia is in line to win his 90th cap in Brazil.

ENGLAND (MARCUS RASHFORD, JESSE LINGARD, PHIL JONES, CHRIS SMALLING)United’s England quartet are all likely to feature at some point in the Three Lions’ upcoming matches away to Malta on Friday night and at home to Slovakia the following Monday. England currently sit two points clear of Slovakia at the top of Group F, meaning the clash at Wembley is an important one for Rashford and co.

FRANCE (PAUL POGBA)Pogba is expected to play a full part for Les Bleus when they take on Daley Blind’s Netherlands on Thursday night, and when they host Luxembourg three days later. The midfield dynamo has scored two goals in three Premier League outings this term and Didier Deschamps will hope he can continue his goalscoring form to fire France to the top of Group A.

ITALY (MATTEO DARMIAN)The full-back is in Italy’s squad for the upcoming matches against David De Gea’s Spain on Saturday and when his country host Israel the following Tuesday. Darmian is yet to feature in the Premier League for United this season, but should he play in either game for Italy he will win his 31st cap.

IVORY COAST (ERIC BAILLY)The Reds’ combative defender will likely line up in the heart of defence in both games of the Ivory Coast's double-header against Gabon in Africa’s Group C. Bailly’s side currently sit top of their group with four points from a possible six, after beating Liberia 4-0 on aggregate to reach this stage.

NETHERLANDS (DALEY BLIND)Blind’s side could leapfrog France in Group A with a win at Stade de France on Thursday, but regardless, Dick Advocaat’s men will look to pick up three points when they face Bulgaria the following Sunday. Blind is joined in the Oranje squad by former United striker Robin van Persie, who hasn’t made an international appearance since 2015.

SERBIA (NEMANJA MATIC)Serbia will look to extend their lead at the top of Group D when they face bottom side Moldova on Saturday, however, they will face a tough challenge against the Republic of Ireland three days later in Dublin. Matic’s side are currently joint top with Martin O’Neill’s side, so two wins here would go a long way to securing their place in Russia.

SPAIN (DAVID DE GEA)De Gea is expected to start in goal for Spain when they face joint-table toppers Italy on Saturday night, and again when they face minnows Liechtenstein three days later. The shot-stopper has kept three clean sheets in three for the Reds this term, and he will hope to do the same for Spain as they look to qualify for Russia 2018 ahead of the Azzurri.

SWEDEN (VICTOR LINDELOF)Sweden currently sit joint-top of Group A with France, and they could extend their lead at the summit with wins against Bulgaria and Belarus in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Jose Mourinho has been carefully managing Lindelof's progress and the defender will hope to get some minutes under his belt for his country in the upcoming two games. 

INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES FEATURING UNITED FIRST-TEAM PLAYERS

Thursday 31 AugustBelgium v Gibraltar 19:45
France v Netherlands 19:45
Bulgaria v Sweden 19:45
Brazil v Ecuador 21:45

Friday 1 September
Uruguay v Argentina 00:00
Romania v Armenia 19:45
Malta v England 19:45

Saturday 2 SeptemberGabon v Ivory Coast 17:00
Serbia v Moldova 17:00
Spain v Italy 19:45

Sunday 3 September
Netherlands v Bulgaria 18:00
Belarus v Sweden 19:00
Greece v Belgium 19:45
France v Luxembourg 19:45

Monday 4 SeptemberArmenia v Denmark 17:00
England v Slovakia 19:45

Tuesday 5 September
Ecuador v Peru 16:00
Ivory Coast v Gabon 18:30
Republic of Ireland v Serbia 19:45
Liechtenstein v Spain 20:45
Italy v Israel 20:45

Wednesday 6 September
Argentina v Venezuela 00:30

All kick-offs in UK time (BST)