Hogg calls on EFL to rethink international break rules as Salford game goes ahead despite call-ups
Chris Hogg believes the EFL need to rethink the rules around international breaks, with Saturday's game against Salford set to go ahead despite both teams having three players called up by their countries.
Cobblers are without Janoi Donacien (Saint Lucia), Tyrese Fornah (Sierra Leone) and Sam Chambers (Scotland Under-19s). Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh is also on the standby list for Ireland Under-21s.
League Two leaders Salford are missing midfielder Elliot Bonds (Guyana), who has featured in 10 of their 14 league games this season, wing-back Nathan Asiimwe (Uganda), and winger Kallum Cesay (DR Congo). Unlike Northampton, the Ammies had the option to postpone Saturday’s fixture but opted not to.
“I’m not particularly surprised (that the game is going ahead),” said Hogg. “But I think it needs to be planned in a bit better than it is. More and more teams are having international call-ups at this level. We had three called up but we didn’t meet the criteria due to Sam Chambers not playing enough minutes so we had no control over it.
“But I’m not surprised it’s going ahead, if you’re Salford you want to carry on playing and continue the rhythm you’re in. It is what it is but it’s crept in more and personally I feel it should be a bit more planned in.
“It hurts a lot of teams that can’t afford to lose certain players. You can lose two of your best players but you still have to play a game, whereas another team might lose two players but have the depth to cope with it. It’s not the club’s fault, it’s the rules.
“I don’t think it would have been so much of an issue five or six years ago because you didn’t have as many call-ups. It’s something the EFL need to have a look at in my opinion.”