This month's international fixtures sees the Premier League halted for the third time since the opening day in August, a situation that is far from ideal for any club, especially struggling Sunderland.
However Sam Allardyce has remained optimistic regarding the break, looking into the positives that it provides, despite admitting there are negatives towards the multiple stoppages throughout the campaign.
Attention To Detail
Perhaps the biggest positive factor that club managers have whilst the majority of their squad are away is the ability to work closely with the players that are left behind.
This is an opportunity that Allardyce has relished during this week as he gets to "work more and get to know [his players] better," as he told Chronicle Live, something that is surely only going to aid Sunderland's battle for survival.
Fans will be hoping that Big Sam has taken the time to work on the defensive side of his new team's game, which has been the Black Cats main area of weakness from the very start of the season.
Even though Allardyce is pleased to get the chance to work with his players on a closer basis which will allow him to pick out the crucial details, for him that's where the positive vibes regarding the break end.
Injury Risk
For the Sunderland manager there is "more of a problem with injuries" as he worries about the high risk that one of his players will come back with a knock, and, given Sunderland's current situation, they need every player they can get.
Allardyce feels that three breaks in the opening three months is "a bit much" especially with him taking the position later into the season, meaning he's still trying to "put a squad together and just build it" to ensure that the Black Cats start playing as a team.
The lack of 'team play' is something that Allardyce claims fans criticise a lot more, with many saying they are "not playing as a team," which is an issue he can't address currently due to not having a full squad.
Sunderland now don't have a game until November 23 when they take on Crystal Palace, but for now Big Sam's concentration is on hoping that his current squad don't get injured whilst representing their countries.