International Preview | Royals answer countries' calls

Looking ahead to our players' call-ups

A number of Reading players will be turning their attention to representing their nation as we head into the first international break of the 2023-24 season.

Three Royals have received senior call-ups, with a further three players on duty with their country's youth squads.

Action involving Reading players will be taking place from Barbados to Lithuania, with all six involved in key fixtures.

Ben Elliott

New signing Ben Elliott will be looking to add the debut cap he earned for Cameroon earlier this summer when the Indomitable Lions go up against Burundi on September 12.

Elliott made his bow for the side this year on June 10, replacing Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo in a friendly against Mexico held in San Diego.

Both teams will be looking to use the fixture to kickstart their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with each having picked up just one win from their three games so far.

• Cameroon v Burundi, AFCON Qualification Group C, Tuesday 12 September, 8pm BST, Stade Omnisport Roumdé Adjia, Cameroon.

Coniah Boyce-Clarke 

The goalkeeper has been called up to the Reggae Boyz squad once again as the side get their CONCACAF Nations League campaign underway with fixtures against Haiti and Honduras.

Boyce-Clarke made the step-up to the senior squad this year after five appearances for Jamaica Under-21s in 2022. He made his debut in the 2023 Gold Cup, coming off the bench with eight minutes remaining in a 5-0 victory over Saint Kitts and Nevis.

He will be part of the Jamaica squad that start their Nations League campaign in Group B of League A of the Nations League. League A's two groups consist of six teams, with the top two from each qualifying to the quarter finals. 

It is at this stage that the four seeded teams enter the draw. The winners of the four quarter finals, as well as the victors from the play-offs between the four losing quarter finalists, earn a place at the 2024 Copa America.

Both matches are at home for Jamaica, offering Boyce-Clarke the chance to make his home international debut. 

• Jamaica v Honduras, CONCACAF Nations League A, Group B, Friday 8th September, 2am BST, Indpendence Park, Jamaica.
• Jamaica v Haiti, CONCACAF Nations League A, Group B, Monday 11th September, 1am BST, Indpendence Park, Jamaica.

Jeriel Dorsett

Dorsett will be looking to earn his first senior international cap during this period, having been called up by the Caribbean island for the first time.

Despite representing England at the Under-17 and Under-18 level, the defender has decided to pledge his allegiance to Montserrat, and could be in line to make his debut for the side against Barbados.

Two fixtures in the CONCACAF Nations League B await the side this international break. They will compete in Group B, playing the three other teams home and away. The group winners will earn promotion to League A, where they can compete for Copa America qualification, whilst the last-placed team will drop into League C.

Montserrat will be looking to improve on the four points they picked up in the 2022-23 campaign, and will be strengenthed by Dorsett's addition.

• Montserrat v Barbados, CONCACAF Nations League B, Group B, Saturday 9 September, 12pm BST, Wildey Turf, Barbados.
• Montserrat v Dominican Republic, CONCACAF Nations League B, Group B, Tuesday 12 September, 12pm BST, Estate Stadium, Montserrat.

Charlie Savage

Savage will be looking to add to the two appearances he has made for Wales nder-21s after earning another call-up for the squad during this break.

His performances for the Royals have also seen him placed on the standby list for the senior side, bringing him closer to a first senior international cap.

Wales face Liechtenstein in a friendly at before travelling to Lithuania as they look to get their first win of the UEFA U21 European Championship qualification after a 2-2 draw against Denmark in the opening fixture.

• Wales Under-21 v Liechtenstein Under-21, International Friendly, Friday 8 September, 4:30pm BST, Rodney Parade, Wales.
• Wales Under-21 v Lithuania Under-21, UEFA U21 European Championship Qualifier, Group I, Monday 11 September, 4pm BST, Jonava Stadium, Lithuania. 

Basil Tuma

Tuma will be looking to mark his first call-up to the Malta Under-21 squad in style as the side get their UEFA U21 European Championship qualifying campaign during this international break.

The Academy graduate intially represented Uganda, featuring for the Under-17 in their victorious 2020 CECAFA U-17 Championship campaign, before switching to Malta, making his Under-19 debut in November 2022 against Portugal Under-19.

He featured in three games at the 2023 UEFA Under-19 European Championship, bagging his second international goal, again against Portugal, as the side exited at the group stage.

Malta Under-21s have two home fixtures to start their qualifying campaign, facing Spain and Hungary, where Tuma will be hoping to make an impact at a higher age-group.

• Malta Under-21 v Spain Under-21,  UEFA U21 European Championship Qualifier, Group B, Friday 8 September, 7.45pm BST, Tony Bezzina Stadium, Malta. 
• Malta Under-21 v Hungary Under-21,  UEFA U21 European Championship Qualifier, Group B, Monday 12 September, 4.45pm BST, Tony Bezzina Stadium, Malta. 

Dom Ballard

Our deadline signing, and new number nine, immediately travelled after signing to join up with the England Under-19 squad for the first-time after his impressive start to the Premier League 2 season.

He has featured previously for the Young Lions at Under-17 and Under-18, scoring three goals in three games for the latter. 

The Under-19 have gone to Spain for a training camp ahead of their UEFA U19 European Championship qualification campaign getting underway in October, with fixtures against Germany and Switzerland putting them through their paces.

Ballard played 75 minutes in the friendly against Germany, as the side fell to a 1-0 defeat. The striker will hope for better against the Swiss.

• England Under-19 0-1 Germany Under-19, International Friendly, Wednesday 6 September, 5pm BST, Oliva Nova Football Centre, Spain.
• England Under-19 v Switzerland Under-19, International Friendly, Saturday 9 September, 1pm BST, Oliva Nova Football Centre, Spain.

We wish all these Royals the best of luck in their international endeavours.