It is a more familiar, shorter, international break in November, following the new extended window introduced last month. There is still plenty going on, though, with several nations rebuilding under new management and Blues in contention to make debuts.

Here is what you need to know to follow the key stories involving Chelsea players during this international break…

Big shoes to fill

It is impossible for Portugal to avoid the big story in their camp for this window – that they will be without long-serving captain and all-time leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who announced his retirement from international football last week.

The two Blues in their squad for November are at very different stages of their own international careers, but will both be looking to play their part in Portugal’s new-look, post-Ronaldo attack.

Pedro Neto is one of the experienced, established attackers in the team hoping to fill the gap left by Ronaldo, both in terms of impact on the pitch and leadership. At the other end of the scale is Geovany Quenda, previously a regular for Portugal at youth level, hoping to make his first senior appearance as part of the next generation auditioning to take up the reins.

Showdown between the posts

Belgium are another country who will be without one of their experienced regulars, in former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has opted to sit out this Nations League campaign after a series of injuries.

That has resulted in a shootout between the other goalkeepers to stake a claim for this tournament and the right to challenge Courtois for the No1 spot on his return. With some strong performances under his belt in the Premier League over the last month, Mike Penders is now hoping to follow up his debut in that competition with another for his national team.

Building together

Argentina are one of several countries undergoing something of a rebuild after this year’s World Cup, although without a change in management, as Lionel Scaloni looks to inject some youth into his side after the international retirement of Lionel Messi.

Among that younger generation looking to impress Scaloni to play an important part in Argentina’s future are 22-year-old Valentin Barco and 21-year-old Aaron Anselmino. Barco already has seven caps to his name, but Anselmino has been called up to the senior squad for the first time.

At the other end of the scale is Emiliano Martinez. The goalkeeper is one of Argentina’s most experienced players and a veteran of their 2022 World Cup-winning campaign. After being named on the bench for Chelsea against Sunderland, he could make his return to the pitch following surgery on a fractured jaw during this international window.

All to play for

As well as a crucial couple of games for their Nations League campaign, which could conclude with an effective play-off against Belgium for a place in the quarter-finals, the most important thing for Italy at the moment is to steady the ship after repeated failures to reach the World Cup.

That means returning manager Roberto Mancini’s focus is very much on the future. As a result, it is a notably young squad selected for this international window, with only three outfield players over the age of 27. That is a serious departure for a team which has traditionally relied heavily on experience.

Among the young contingent is Marco Palestra, returning to the squad following injury for the first time since making his international debut in March.

New kid on the block

Anselmino isn’t the only Chelsea player meeting up with their national team for the first time in November. After being fast-tracked through the youth ranks in Sweden, Genesis Antwi has been selected by Graham Potter, just one year after making his debut for their Under-21s.

Having impressed on loan with Strasbourg so far this season – his first full-time campaign in senior football – Antwi now has his sights set on a senior international debut as Sweden aim to seal promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.