SIX Burnley players will be away on senior international duty as the World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign gets under way.

The European nations are involved in the group stages during this international break, with goalkeepers Nick Pope and Bailey Peacock-Farrell involved for England and Northern Ireland respectively, Robbie Brady and Kevin Long are included in the Republic of Ireland squad, Matej Vydra will meet up with the Czech Republic for their three qualifiers, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson has recovered from injury in time to join the Iceland camp for their three away games.

It is possible Pope could start for England, who face San Marino at home next Thursday in the first of three qualifiers, with Jordan Pickford ruled out through injury.

Everton's number one is sidelined with an abdominal muscle injury which he suffered during the Clarets' 2-1 win at Goodison Park last weekend.

He is replaced by West Brom's Sam Johnstone in Gareth Southgate's selection.

England also face Albania away next weekend and then return to Wembley to take on Poland on March 31.

Pope's Turf Moor team-mate and goalkeeping understudy will be with Northern Ireland for games in Italy and at home to Bulgaria as their quest to reach the World Cup Finals for the first time since 1986 begins, with a friendly with the USA at Windsor Park in between those qualifiers.

The Republic of Ireland have qualifiers away to Serbia on March 24 followed swiftly by Luxembourg at home on March 27, before a friendly with Qatar on March 30.

Iceland have three away qualifiers against Germany, Armenia and Liechtenstein, while the Czech Republic face Estonia and Wales away either side of a home game with Belgium in their qualifying games.