The Premier League is back! Here’s our club-by-club guide to the state your side is in as stars return from national service

 The international break is over, England have qualified for the World Cup and the focus shifts back on to the Barclays Premier League.

Top-flight managers will be welcoming returning players who have scored goals, been injured, suffered disappointment, experienced great joy and have had gruelling journies and will have to get them into the swing of things again.

MailOnline asked our reporters to assess the health of your Premier League club here...

 

ARSENAL

They were in rude health before the international break but a lot will rest on whether Mesut Ozil recovers from the injury he picked up scoring in Germany's 5-3 win over Sweden on his birthday. He is a doubt for Saturday's match against Norwich. His compatriot Per Mertesacker was an unused substitute.

Their goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny should be full of confidence following his superb display for Poland against England at Wembley, while Jack Wilshere will be fresh after only playing eight minutes for the hosts in that game.

Olivier Giroud played both games for France and scored a superb goal against Australia last week and forced an own goal against Finland on Tuesday.

Matt Barlow

Injury scare: Mesut Ozil limped off for Germany (below) in midweek but is expected to play for Arsenal

Germany's head coach Joachim Low shakes hands with Mesut Ozil

ASTON VILLA

The best news for Paul Lambert is that Christian Benteke did not play any part for Belgium after reporting for international duty with a hip problem. The striker was on the bench for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Wales.

The biggest worry is over American goalkeeper Brad Guzan and whether he arrived at training on Thursday morning with either injury or jetlag after the 3-2 win over Panama. Striker Libor Kozak played 90 minutes for the Czech Republic but the likes of Aleksandar Tonev, Andi Weimann, Ciaran Clark and Nicklas Helenius were unused subs.

Janine Self

Striking options: Christian Benteke (left) was an unused substitute for Belgium but Libor Kozak played 90 minutes for the Czech Republic

CARDIFF CITY

Craig Bellamy played in Wales' victory over Macedonia and in his final game for his country in their 1-1 draw with Belgium. Declan John was an unused substitute in the Belgium game but played all 90 minutes in Macedonia. Both came out of the Wales games unscathed. 

Midfield enforcer Gary Medel played the full match for Chile in the 3-3 draw away at Colombia and scored the winning goal for the South Americans against Ecuador in Santiago. No injuries reported.

Riath Al-Samarrai

Hot streak: Cardiff midfielder Gary Medel celebrates scoring for Chile against Ecuador

CHELSEA

Chelsea stars were in fine fettle during the international break. Oscar scored for Brazil, Juan Mata for Spain, Kevin De Bruyne for Belgium and Andre Schurrle bagged a hat-trick for Germany.

There was delight for Michael Essien as Ghana rampaged to a 6-1 win over Egypt and Jose Mourinho will be happy that Eden Hazard only appeared as a substitute for Belgium in their 1-1 draw with Wales.

Frank Lampard was benched for England's victory over Poland on Wednesday and is likely to start against Cardiff on Saturday, while Gary Cahill played in both of the Three Lions' games.

Rik Sharma

Oscar winner: The Chelsea midfielder scored for Brazil during the international break

CRYSTAL PALACE

Palace are not expecting any major injuries to their players who were away, which will be good news to Ian Holloway as he tries to shape a side that can climb out of the relegation zone.

Mile Jedinak was part of the Australia side who were thrashed 6-0 in France, Adrian Mariappa was over in the States with Jamaica and Barry Bannan represented Scotland.

Sam Cunningham

No worries: Mile Jedinak played two games for Australia but is fit to lead struggling Crystal Palace

EVERTON

The Toffees could be without midfielder Darron Gibson for the rest of the season after he suffered  serious cruciate knee ligament damage in Ireland's win over Kazakhstan. But defender Seamus Coleman featured in both games and came through without any issues.

On the plus side for boss Everton boss Roberto Martinez, England duo Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka returned to Finch Farm unscathed and on a high after qualifying for the World Cup. 

Belgian duo Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas also played both games for their country as they also made it to Brazil. On-loan Chelsea forward Lukaku netted twice in the win over Croatia to secure a spot at the finals.

Nikica Jelavic came off the bench for the final 10 minutes of Croatia’s 2-0 defeat by Scotland at Hamden Park.

Dominic King

Main man: Leighton Baines will return for Everton after playing a key role for England

FULHAM

A healthy international break for Fulham. Alex Kacaniklic scored in Sweden’s 5-3 defeat by Germany while Bryan Ruiz grabbed a goal in Costa Rica’s 2-1 victory against Mexico and will be on the plane to Brazil next summer.

Giorgos Karagounis scored a free-kick for Greece in their 2-0 win over Liechtenstein and Pajtim Kasami made his senior debut for Switzerland in the 1-0 win over Slovenia. Philippe Senderos was an unused substitute in the 2-1 win over Albania.

Brede Hangeland appeared for Norway,  Adel Taarabt made his return to international football as a second-half substitute as Morocco were held to a 1-1 draw on home soil by South Africa and Neil Etheridge kept goal for the Philippines as they went down 2-1 to Chinese Taipei in their Peace Cup opener.

Laurie Whitwell

Top 10: Bryan Ruiz returns to Fulham with confidence high after scoring for Costa Rica in the week

HULL CITY

Differing fortunes for Steve Bruce’s two first choice full backs. Maynor Figueroa scored a superb free-kick in Honduras’ draw with Jamaica last night which clinched their place in next summer’s World Cup but poor Ahmed Elmohamady didn’t even get a run for Egypt as they crashed to a 6-1 defeat by Ghana in the first leg of their play-off. 

Scotland keeper Allan McGregor kept a clean sheet in his country’s excellent 2-0 win over Croatia at Hampden while manager’s son Alex was an unused substitute in Northern Ireland’s two games this week.

Hull have four Republic of Ireland internationals in their ranks but not one was called up by caretaker manager Noel King. Robbie Brady had a hernia operation but has been recovering well during the international break and has an outside chance of playing at Everton on Saturday.

Colin Young

Honduran hero: Maynor Figueroa (No 3) celebrates after scoring for his country

LIVERPOOL

England's Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge should be happy as both scored in the two games that led to their country's World Cup qualification.

Daniel Agger helped Denmark finish second in their group after a 2-2 draw with Italy and 6-0 demolition of Malta, but they missed out on a play-off place. Slovakia captain Martin Skrtel was sent off in a 1-0 defeat by Greece with his side already out of contention.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet watched from the bench as Belgium booked their tickets for Brazil.

Luis Suarez attracted more controversy with a dubious penalty during Uruguay's 3-2 win over Argentina following a 1-0 win over Ecuador that leaves them with a play-off against Jordan.

Dominic King

Reputation taking another dive: Luis Suarez was at the centre of another 'cheat' storm for Uruguay

More of this: Liverpool will want to see Suarez in this pose on the turf, celebrating a goal

MANCHESTER CITY

Manuel Pellegrini should be a happy coach this weekend as the international break has worked in his favour.

Players like Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure, instrumental in Ivory Coast's 3-1 win over Senegal, actually returned earlier than expected while centre forward Edin Dzeko will be buoyed by Bosnia qualifying for the World Cup for the first time.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart came through two tricky games with England without a blemish and that should do his confidence a world of good after a tricky start to the season.

Ian Ladyman

High spirits: Edin Dzeko (left) had plenty to celebrate as Bosnia reached their first World Cup and Yaya Toure's Ivory Coast won their play-off first leg against Senegal

MANCHESTER UNITED

There will be few happier players at Old Trafford than Wayne Rooney this weekend after his goal set England on the way to the World Cup finals against Poland on Tuesday night. Team-mates Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck will also be satisfied after being part of that effort.

Robin van Persie might run Rooney close, however, after breaking the Holland goalscoring record.

Elsewhere, though, fringe players Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa have both used their trips away to express disappointment with life on the edges at Old Trafford. Manager David Moyes may have some egos to satisfy this weekend.

Ian Ladyman

Goalden wonders: Robin van Persie broke the Dutch scoring record and Wayne Rooney starred for England

NEWCASTLE

Captain Fabricio Coloccini’s thigh injury that led to him returning from Argentina duty prematurely will also keep him out of the clash with Liverpool at the weekend.

France defender Mathieu Debuchy scored a rare goal for his country in last week’s friendly against Australia, as did friend and team-mate Yohan Cabaye.

But Debuchy was the only one of the pair to start in France’s 3-0 home win over Finland which has clinched them a place in next month’s play-offs. Cabaye and striker Loic Remy both came on as second-half substitutes.

Colin Young

Doubt: Fabricio Coloccini (right) has been struggling with injury but Newcastle need their captain

NORWICH CITY

Goalkeeper John Ruddy was on the bench for England’s Brazil-clinching World Cup qualifiers, while Robert Snodgrass scored for Scotland in their commendable 2-0 win over Croatia at Hampen Park on Tuesday. Russell Martin played the full 90 minutes in both Scotland's qualifiers. 

Left back Martin Olsson scored in Sweden’s 2-1 win over Austria that sealed their place in the European play-offs for the World Cup and also played in the 5-3 loss to Germany on Tuesday.

Wes Hoolahan came on for the final few minutes of Ireland’s 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan, but was an unused substitute, alongside Anthony Pilkington, in Germany four days beforehand.

Leroy Fer started in midfield for Holland and played the entirety of the country’s 2-0 win in Turkey and came off the bench for the final nine minutes of the 8-1 demolition of Hungary too. Alex Tettey patrolled midfield in Norway’s 1-1 draw with Iceland.

Laurie Whitwell

Flying Canary: Robert Snodgrass (centre) scores a header for Scotland against Croatia

SOUTHAMPTON

All of their 11 players away on international duty are returning during the next 24 hours to have their fitness assessed but they face an anxious wait over the extent to goalkeeper Artur Boruc’s injury. He missed Poland’s defeat by England on Tuesday with a hamstring strain and is a doubt to face Manchester United.

First-choice centre back Dejan Lovren was away with Croatia and is expected to be fine. Dani Osvaldo netted for Italy and Gaston Ramirez was a bit-part player for Uruguay but has had a round trip of more than 13,000 miles. 

They had a plethora of teenagers away with youth teams, including Calum Chambers who captained the England Under 19s and James Ward-Prowse who scored for the Under 21s on Tuesday.

Sam Cunningham

Anxious wait: Southampton will hope goalkeeper Artur Boruc's injury is not too serious

STOKE CITY

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic will have an extra spring in the step when he reports back to training after Bosnia confirmed they are off to Brazil with their 1-0 win in Lithuania.

Manager Mark Hughes has two long-distance travellers to worry about – Wilson Palacios was a second-half sub for Honduras in the 2-2 draw in Jamaica while American Geoff Cameron was an unused sub in the 3-2 win over Panama.

Marc Wilson and Glenn Whelan were on Republic of Ireland duty against Kazakhstan.

Janine Self

Thumbs up: Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic (left) salutes Bosnia's historic World Cup qualification

SUNDERLAND

I'm not sure what was the biggest surprise, John O’Shea scoring his first goal for Ireland for 10 years or Jozy Altidore scoring at all.

O’Shea netted in the Republic's 3-1 win over Kazakhstan and striker Altidore, who has yet to score for Sunderland since his £4million move from AZ Alkmaar, netted against Panama.

Midfielder Seb Larsson captained Sweden and made two goals in their 5-3 home defeat bu Group C winners Germany. David Vaughan played the full 90 minutes for Wales in their 1-1 draw against Belgium.

Emanuele Giaccherini was an unused substitute for Italy in their 2-2 draw with Armenia while South Koreans Ji and Ki return home unscathed.

Colin Young

Once a decade: John O'Shea (right) scored his first Republic of Ireland goal for 10 years

SWANSEA CITY

Michu should be on cloud nine after fulfilling his boyhood dream when he made his Spain debut against Belarus, just over a year after signing for the South Wales club for £2million. 

Wilfried Bony was an unused substitute for the Ivory Coast in their win over Senegal. Michel Vorm played all 90 minutes in Holland's 8-1 thrashing of Hungary but was an unused sub against Turkey. Vorm returned with a hand injury but is expected to be fit for the weekend.

Jonathan de Guzman was left out of the Dutch squad and faces a race to be fit for Saturday's game against Sunderland.

Riath Al-Samarrai

Shining among stars: Michu made his debut for Spain last week alongside some world greats

TOTTENHAM

Andros Townsend experienced a faultless start to his England career but he was not the only Spurs player to come back in a positive frame of mind.

Gylfi Sigurdsson set up Iceland’s goal against Norway that sealed their place in the play-offs for Brazil. He is joined by Vlad Chiriches, who played in the centre of Romania’s defence in the 4-0 win over Albania but was suspended for the 2-0 victory against Estonia.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will also be in the play-offs after France beat Finland 3-0 to finish behind Spain. Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele, and Jan Vertonghen appeared for Belgium in the win over Croatia and and draw with Wales that saw them top Group A. It was a disappointing break for Christian Eriksen, though, as Denmark finished the worst runners-up so will not have a shot at the World Cup. 

Paulinho played for Brazil in the friendly wins over Zambia in Beijing and South Korea in Seoul.
Erik Lamela played for Argentina in the World Cup qualifying win over Peru and loss to Uruguay in South America. For England, Kyle Walker played well against Montenegro but was suspended for Poland.

Laurie Whitwell

Instant impact: Andros Townsend announced himself on the global stage with a goal on his England debut

WEST BROM

Steve Clarke’s preparation for the trip up the M6 to Stoke should not be too affected by the international break.

Defender Jonas Olsson was not involved for Sweden against Germany on Tuesday night, while goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and striker Shane Long were unused subs for Wales and the Republic of Ireland respectively.

The longest journey was Diego Lugano’s trip to Montevideo where the Uruguay captain played 90 minutes of the 3-2 win over Argentina. Saido Berahino had a good time for England Under 21s, scoring twice against Lithuania on Tuesday.

Janine Self

Spot on: Saido Berahino scored twice for England Under 21s on Tuesday, including this penalty

WEST HAM

James Collins may be regretting ending his international feud with Chris Coleman after limping out of Wales’ 1-1 draw with Belgium after 57 minutes on Tuesday. He was carrying an ankle injury. The defender had made it through the full match against Macedonia on Friday.

His defensive partner Winston Reid played the full 90 minutes of New Zealand’s friendly 0-0 stalemate with Trinidad and Tobago, while left-back Razvan Rat captained Romania to a 2-0 win over Estonia that sealed a play-off spot behind Holland in Group D.

Modibo Maiga has been searching for a goal all season and he found one in South Korea for Mali,  scoring the opener in a 3-1 friendly defeat on Tuesday. Mo Diame played the entirety of Senegal’s 3-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Ivory Coast last Saturday.

Ravel Morrison starred for the Under-21s in San Marino last week and did so again against Lithuania on Tuesday, scoring twice. He also got in a row with Wilfried Zaha after being denied the chance of a hat-trick from the penalty spot.

Laurie Whitwell

Ravel the revelation: Morrison has been in superb form for West ham and England U21