Why Tottenham have four reasons to be happy during international break

After taking just two points from their opening five league games, De Zerbi will hope to use the next three weeks to get his squad in the right physical condition.

A disrupted pre-season has left Spurs off the pace, but De Zerbi will now have precious time on the training ground to turn around the club’s disastrous start to the season.

Spurs have nine senior internationals heading away with their respective countries over the next three weeks, while Archie Gray, Mathys Tel and Mateus Fernandes have all been picked to play for the U21s.

Defensive duo Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke have both made the cut for Xavi’s first Netherlands squad. Andy Robertson, meanwhile, has been called up by new Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli.

Despite indifferent starts to the season, there are also call-ups for Sandro Tonali and Lucas Bergvall, while Antonin Kinsky will be keen to test himself home and away against Thomas Tuchel’s England.

The Nations League runs until October 6, meaning many of Spurs’ European contingent will have a tight turnaround before they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on October 10.

De Zerbi will, however, be relieved to know that Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will play his last friendly of the international break on September 28 against South Korea.

The same goes for Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, who rounds off his international commitments against South Sudan on September 29.

Archie Gray, Mateus Fernandes and Mathys Tel will all take part in Euro U21 qualifying, which runs in line with the dates of the Nations League fixtures over the next three weeks.

The standout name left behind over the international break is Mohammed Kudus, who, despite initially being called up by Ghana, has now stepped down as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious quad injury. He is one of four players who will benefit from a rest over the coming three weeks.

Spurs, though, remain cautious about the 26-year-old’s fitness and do not want him to suffer a setback similar to the one he sustained in April as the club rushed him back in their bid for Premier League survival.

Dejan Kulusevski will also spend the international break in north London after not being called up by Sweden.

Graham Potter had been hopeful of including Kulusevski in his squad. But the 26-year-old has only just returned to full team training after picking up a minor setback in his recovery from a patella injury that has kept him out for almost a year and a half.

Pedro Porro, meanwhile, has pulled out of Spain’s squad after coming off injured during Spurs’ 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend.

Long-term absentees Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert will remain at Hotspur Way, as will James Maddison and Destiny Udogie.

Maddison and Udogie’s omissions will come as a boost for Spurs, who have been managing their minutes this season.

There is also no place in the Brazil squad for Savio, who has endured a frustrating start to life at Spurs following his big-money move from Manchester City in the summer.