West Brom star faced with 2,469 mile decision as Carlos Corberan faces dilemma for Millwall and Watford

West Brom's 2023/24 Championship season is on pause for just under a fortnight as we enter the final international break of the campaign.

The Baggies are fifth in the current standings and a whole five points above Norwich City as to look to be on course for a play-off spot. Up next for Carlos Corberan's men is Millwall on Good Friday, and the scheduling is far from ideal. Easter comes early this year and so they will travel to London on March 29, when the international fixtures won't be over until the evening of March 26.

It leaves EFL clubs especially with a decision over whether their players will be ready for what is a double-header. Five members of West Bromwich Albion’s squad have been called up for international duty over the next fortnight. All of these are friendly matches, with no player involved in any crucial play-offs. 

Mikey Johnston, on loan from Celtic, is in the Republic of Ireland squad. The 24-year-old has got six goals since joining. Both of Ireland’s matches are taking place at the Aviva Stadium. They take on Belgium on Saturday, March 23 and then Switzerland on Tuesday, March 26. 

Semi Ajayi will travel the furthest out of any first-team player. He is linking up with Nigeria, having only just represented them in the Africa Cup of Nations final in mid-February. Nigeria have games in Morocco against Ghana on Friday, March 22 and Mali on Tuesday, March 26. 

It's 1,473 miles according to the Air Miles Calculator from Birmingham Airport to Marrakesh Menara Airport. Nigeria’s game doesn’t kick off until 8.00 pm UK time so he is one player that Carlos Corberan might have to make a decision on, and it may be wise to have discussions about his playing time.

West Brom face Millwall on Friday, March 29 at 1.00 pm so that wouldn’t leave him with much time for training given the travelling he will need to do to get back to base.

Two of the January loan signings are also in contention to play for their countries at senior level. Andi Weimann is in the Austria squad for their games against Slovakia and Turkey. Austria play in Bratislava on Saturday, March 23 before facing Turkey at the neutral venue of Vienna on Tuesday, March 26. 

Callum Marshall who is still finding his feet having joined from West Ham on loan is in the Northern Ireland squad. They face Romania in Bucharest on Friday, March 22 and then head to Hampden Park to face Scotland on Tuesday, March 26. 

Marshall already has three caps for his country having made his debut in June 2023. The 19-year-old has made three appearances so far for West Brom, all off of the bench. He hasn’t played since coming on against Southampton in mid-February. 

Academy graduate Tom Fellows who signed a new contract amid interest from Everton and Leicester City is in the England under-20 squad. It is the first time he has been called up for any Three Lions side.

England’s Elite squad as it is now known have a double-header against Poland and Czech Republic. They first play on Friday, March 22 at the Bialystok City Stadium and then a few days later, it’s the Czech Republic in Znojmo on Tuesday, March 26.