The Football League Paper says...

Break time’s over – let’s get cracking!

AS YOU’LL notice flicking through today’s FLP, there’s quite a strong international flavour to this edition.

Michael O’Neill tells us about combining his job as Stoke manager with bossing Northern Ireland, Preston’s Alan Browne reveals his Republic of Ireland heartbreak, Newport keeper Tom King is ecstatic to be in the Wales squad and Fleetwood’s Harry Souttar savours his chance to turn out – and score - for Australia.

It’s a feather in the cap for the EFL if players and managers receive international recognition and we like to keep tabs on how representatives from the three divisions fare.

And yet these international breaks can be frustrating. It makes the opening months of the EFL season a somewhat stop-start affair. Just as you’re getting into the swing of things, up comes another halt to proceedings and momentum is lost.

Now the November one is out of the way, we’ve got open road – until spring. There will be matches coming thick and fast, not least over the festive period. The next couple of months may not make or break seasons, but they could go a long way to deciding if your team is a genuine contender or mere pretender.

And while the league is the main priority for most, we’ve also got plenty of tasty cup football to look forward to.

The FA Cup second round takes place next weekend and there are some terrific ties, starting with Newport Country trying to avoid an ambush at Non-League Maldon & Tiptree in front of the BBC cameras on Friday night.

In the Carabao Cup, League Two Colchester United have a mouth-watering trip to Manchester United in the quarter-finals next month, while Karl Robinson’s impressive Oxford United entertain Manchester City.

In the Leasing.com Trophy, the group stages have drawn to a close and we’re on to the knockout rounds.

While the international game takes a break, we’ve got oodles of football to enjoy – weather permitting, of course!

Right or wrong?

THE EFL’s decision to appeal against the punishment handed out to Bolton Wanderers by an independent disciplinary commission for failing to play two fixtures has generated different viewpoints.

Former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce (p13) and our resident expert Chris Dunlavy (p7) give us their take.

We’ll leave you to make up your own mind...