10 stars with a point to prove during the international break

As an exciting club football season is pushed to one side for a fortnight, the international fixtures are set to come to the fore.

For some players, the break represents a chance to perform for their country where it has not quite worked out at domestic level, while for others it is a chance to head home and enjoy some time away from a difficult situation with their teams.

Here, Sportsmail takes a look at 10 top-level players with a point to prove over the next fortnight… 

Plenty of Premier League footballers are on international duty, and it can be an important time

Christian Eriksen (Tottenham and Denmark)

After a disastrous start to the season with Spurs, Eriksen will likely be relishing the chance to get away from north London for a week or two. The latest reports are that he’ll be transfer-listed come January, so the playmaker may well see this international break as a way to put himself in the shop window of Europe’s top clubs. 

Everyone is waiting to see whether the old Eriksen will turn it on for Denmark, away from the negative air currently engulfing Mauricio Pochettino’s out-of-form side.

Fixtures: vs Switzerland (H), Saturday Oct 12 & vs Luxembourg (H), Tuesday Oct 15

Christian Eriksen has struggled for Spurs of late, and all eyes will be on him in a Denmark shirt

Marcus Rashford (Manchester United and England)

A very similar scenario awaits Rashford, as he gets away from a disappointed club dressing room to join his international colleagues in Gareth Southgate’s notoriously jovial one with England. Pressure has been heaped on his shoulders at Manchester United, and he has been entrusted to fire the club back up the Premier League.

With Harry Kane alongside him, who also will likely enjoy his time away from club duty, can the pair find a bit of form and dust off those shooting boots that have been hidden for the last few weeks?

Fixtures: vs Czech Republic (A), Friday Oct 11 & vs Bulgaria (A), Monday Oct 14 

Marcus Rashford has been under pressure at United, and may relish him time with England

Michael Keane (Everton and England)

Since last playing for England, Michael Keane has conceded nine goals in four games at the heart of Everton’s defence, losing every single fixture. He will be glad to head to St Georges’ Park and to a team that are expected to win both games.

His personal form has been well below-par too… in his second season at Everton he shone but is thought by many fans to have now gone backwards to the levels of his disappointing first campaign at Goodison. Despite that, Southgate has stuck by him and a couple of impressive displays here will help his confidence no end.

Fixtures: vs Czech Republic (A), Friday Oct 11 & vs Bulgaria (A), Monday Oct 14  

Michael Keane (centre) is struggling for form, but is still a big part of the England set-up

Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City and Argentina)

Another centre back in poor form, and at the worst time for Pep Guardiola with a series of injuries really…