With seven matches in 23 days, Harry Redknapp's weary troops have been craving some rest.

At least the international week has provided a welcome break from the domestic programme.

But not everyone is happy – least of all Redknapp.

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He said: 'It's the same old thing.

'They go away now. We don't see them until Friday week for training before we leave for Aston Villa.

'I'll see them at 10am Friday morning. You get on the coach at 1pm and haven't got a clue who's fit.

'They'll come back from Nigeria, they'll come back from Algeria, they'll come back from Iceland, they'll come back from playing for England.

'It's crazy, really, during the season, but what can you do?'

The Blues have no fewer than 10 absentees from the training ground this week in the name of international duty.

With the majority of countries facing two World Cup qualifiers before the resumption of the Premier League on October 18, it represents a hectic schedule.

Leading the way are David James, Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe, who are all in the England squad for the clashes with Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Fabio Capello's men currently top group six having won their opening two matches against Andorra and Croatia last month.

Elsewhere, Hermann Hreidarsson's Iceland face a tough trip to Holland in group nine.

Over in the African section, Kanu is in the frame for Nigeria in their World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone.

The Super Eagles have already qualified for the next stage having won all five of their group four matches so far.

Ben Sahar is with Israel for their double header with Luxembourg and Latvia, while Nadir Belhadj will see duty with Algeria in Liberia.

And Younes Kaboul is also going to be in action for France under-21s in Germany for a European Championship qualifying play-off.

However, Lassana Diarra will not be in action for France's clash with Romania after he withdrew from the squad because of a knee injury.

Papa Bouba Diop has been left out of the Senegal set-up again, while Niko Kranjcar and John Utaka remain on the sidelines as they continue to recover from injury.off.

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