The Qatar 2022 World Cup being held in the middle of a season has left every top-level domestic coach with plenty to think about, including our own Graham Potter.

With the Premier League set to resume during the traditionally busy festive calendar, Potter has discussed his strategy to ease players who participated at the World Cup back into action for the club.

“We’ve given all the guys who were at the World Cup some time off,” Potter said, with Mateo Kovacic and Hakin Ziyech the last two to return.

“They’ve had a bit of a holiday, and a bit of time with their families. It’s not so easy to get the balance right, we’re all learning because it’s never happened before, so we don’t know how that’s going to go.

“You have to constantly evaluate the players because you might get two or three months down the line and think you have to do something just to refresh, because we don’t know what the effects of a World Cup will be long term.

“Now we’re confident with the guys and where they are. We can work and prepare normally for the games.”