Nuno Espírito Santo has been handed an unusual preparation problem ahead of West Ham United’s return to Championship action against Queens Park Rangers.
The Hammers do not face QPR until Friday 9 October, giving Nuno almost three weeks without a competitive fixture following the 2-2 draw at Millwall.
That sounds like an ideal opportunity to work at Rush Green.
The reality is rather different.
West Ham confirmed that eight first-team players were called up during the September and October international window, meaning Nuno has been unable to work with his entire squad during a valuable period on the training ground.
West Ham players remain scattered across Europe
Mads Hermansen, Dinos Mavropanos and Manor Solomon are all away on senior international duty.
Edvin Austbø is with Norway U21s, while Divine Mukasa, Airidas Golambeckis, Finlay Herrick and Ezra Mayers were selected by England U20s.
Crucially, the schedule stretches well into October.
Hermansen is due to face Wales on 4 October, while Solomon’s Israel and Mavropanos’ Greece are also scheduled to play that evening.
That leaves only five days between those fixtures and West Ham’s Championship meeting with QPR.
For Nuno, it compresses the period in which he can properly prepare his preferred side for the London Stadium encounter.
Nuno must maximise the players left at Rush Green
There is at least an opportunity hidden inside the disruption.
Players who have remained with West Ham have an extended period to work with the coaching staff, while members of the academy can potentially earn greater exposure to the senior environment.
That could prove particularly valuable after a frantic opening to the season.
West Ham entered the international break unbeaten in their previous four Championship matches, scoring 14 goals across victories over Wolves, Bolton and Wrexham before the draw at Millwall.
Maintaining that momentum will now be Nuno’s challenge.
QPR will arrive at London Stadium on 9 October, but West Ham’s full preparations for the fixture may not truly begin until several of their internationals return just days beforehand.
