Wednesday 14 October 2015 13:29, UK
The international break is always a nervous time for club managers, and there were several injuries to key Premier League players over the latest round of fixtures.
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero left the pitch in tears during Argentina's match against Ecuador, while Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic both picked up injuries playing for Serbia and Newcastle's Tim Krul is out for the season after an injury sustained with the Netherlands.
Let's wrap up the state of play following the international matches from the past week...
Sergio Aguero (Argentina and Manchester City)
The Argentine Football Association have confirmed that Aguero injured his left hamstring 22 minutes into Argentina's 2-0 defeat, after the Manchester City striker went down chasing Gabriel Achilier.
Team-mate Nicolas Otamendi revealed after the game that Aguero was in tears in the dressing room, and Manuel Pellegrini is unlikely to be impressed after Argentina head coach Gerardo Martino admitted Aguero was not fully fit heading into the fixture.
"It's true that Aguero was carrying a problem," Martino said. "Pellegrini took him off after 60, 65 minutes in his last game [against Newcastle United].
"But without having spoken in depth with the doctor, I'd venture to say the injury from today is not in the same place."
The City forward has struggled in the past with hamstring problems, missing time in 2013 and 2014, and says he expects to be out for around a month with this latest injury.
David Silva (Spain and Manchester City)
Just 24 hours after seeing Aguero go down injured, City were dealt another blow as Silva hobbled off in Spain's 4-0 win over Luxembourg.
The 29-year-old, who has only recently returned from a calf injury, was caught on his ankle by a tackle from Lars Gerson.
Silva tried to play on for a couple of minutes but soon signalled to the bench that he needed to come off.
Spain head coach Vincente del Bosque said afterwards that he does not know the extent of the injury but reports suggest it is an ankle sprain that could leave him sidelined for 2-3 weeks.
Alexsandar Kolarov (Serbia and Manchester City)
City's injury woes were added to on Sunday when Kolarov was forced off with a knock against Portugal.
In an eventful game for the defender, he provided an assist for Serbia's equaliser before being substituted and then sent off for protesting a decision on the touchline.
The extent of the injury is not yet known but City are already without their other recognised left-back, Gael Clichy, so Pablo Zabaleta or Bacary Sagna might have to fill in.
Tim Krul (Netherlands and Newcastle)
The goalkeeper said he was "devastated" after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in Netherlands' 2-1 win over Kazakhstan on Saturday.
Newcastle confirmed that the injury will rule Krul out for the rest of the season and they have responded by recalling Freddie Woodman from his loan at Crawley to provide cover for Rob Elliott.
The injury was sustained towards the end of the match when the Dutch keeper landed awkwardly on the artificial turf of the Astana Arena.
"I'm devastated the scan has confirmed my biggest fear, that I have torn my knee cruciate playing for Holland in the game against Kazakhstan last night," he said in a statement.
"My recovery and hard work starts now to fully recover. I'm devastated I can't play a part on the pitch to help the team turn this season around. I still believe this club can - and should - be up there with the top teams."
Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia and Chelsea)
The Serbia captain was forced off after 65 minutes in Tirana with a hamstring pull.
Ivanovic has struggled for form along with the Chelsea defence this season, but Jose Mourinho has kept faith with the defender so far.
He may need to shuffle his pack for Chelsea's next game, though, with the visit of Aston Villa just eight days away.
After that, Chelsea face a crucial Champions League trip to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev, and Ivanovic is not the only injury concern for Mourinho heading into a busy period of games.
Nemanja Matic (Serbia and Chelsea)
Matic was substituted just eight minutes after Ivanovic during Serbia's 2-0 victory over Albania in European Qualifying on Thursday night.
The midfielder left the pitch with an unidentified muscular problem, and both players will now be assessed by Chelsea's medical team ahead of Aston Villa's visit to Stamford Bridge.
Matic may not be under consideration anyway after his substitution against Southampton on Saturday Night Football. The Serb was brought on at half-time, only to be hooked by Mourinho 28 minutes later.
But Chelsea face an incredibly busy period after the international break with seven games over the next three weeks, including trips to West Ham, Stoke twice, and Dynamo Kiev.
Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick (England and Man Utd)
Louis van Gaal is set to be handed a double boost as both Rooney and Carrick are expected to be fit to play for Manchester United against Everton this weekend after missing England's two matches with injury.
Rooney was sidelined by an ankle injury suffered during a training session with his country while Carrick picked up a groin problem.
But England manager Roy Hodgson said: "From Michael's point of view, and United's, the rest will do him good. I fully expect to see him and Wayne Rooney fit for United and Louis van Gaal next weekend."
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany and Man Utd)
Louis van Gaal faces a nervous wait for news after Bastian Schweinsteiger pulled out of Germany's match against the Republic of Ireland in the warm-up with a thigh injury.
The 31-year-old now faces a race against time to be fit for Manchester United's trip to Everton on Saturday,
Van Gaal is already managing injuries to Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo, but Germany coach Joachim Low provided reassuring news after the game.
Shay Given (Republic of Ireland and Stoke City)
Schweinsteiger was not the only casualty at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday night.
Republic of Ireland 'keeper Shay Given was carried off on a stretcher after injuring his knee taking a goal kick.
Depending on the severity of the knee problem, Mark Hughes could be without his back-up goalkeeper for a fixture list that includes matches against Swansea, Watford, Chelsea and Newcastle before the end of October.
If Given misses an extended period of time, Hughes will likely call on summer signing Jakob Haugaard.
Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland and Man Utd)
After helping Northern Ireland secure their place at Euro 2016 with victory over Greece on Thursday, McNair ended the weekend in hospital following the 1-1 draw with Finland and will be out for two weeks. He is expected to leave Helsinki later on Wednesday and return home.
The defender suffered an abdominal injury in the 13th minute of the match and was eventually taken off six minutes into the second half.
It was feared he may have ruptured his liver, but Sky sources understand he has been given the all-clear in that regard and his injuries have been limited to severe bruising around the organs near his ribs.
Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland and Stoke City)
After missing Stoke's win over Aston Villa last weekend, Shaqiri limped out of Switzerland's final training session ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier against San Marino on Friday evening and played no part in the match.
However, he was deemed fit enough to play the first 45 minutes of the 1-0 win over Estonia on Monday so could be available for the Potters' next match against Swansea.
Vincent Kompany (Belgium and Man City)
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany came through an hour of Belgium's 3-1 European Qualifying victory over Israel unscathed on Tuesday night.
The 29-year-old defender had missed a month's worth of City games with a calf injury, but insists he is fit to return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Manuel Pellegrini had previously insisted Kompany would not play for Belgium but Sky sources understand City changed their stance and trusted his country to make the right decision.
