Everton boss Roberto Martinez hopes his players can avoid injury during international week.
Ross Barkley, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas, Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy are among those who will link-up with their national teams for the latest round of fixtures that are taking place over the next fortnight.
"All the international breaks are frustrating moments," Martinez told evertontv following the Blues' goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
"Yes, you enjoy seeing the players representing their nations but we have such an important game coming up at home and we are all going to be keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes well and we don't pick up any injuries because we want to prepare for the game in the right manner.
"They [international breaks] happen time after time and we have to just accept it. But in many ways we will try and use it to our benefit.
"The players that are left behind, we are going to work with them to get them ready physically for the next third of the competition."
