Without Japan and Europe-based stars Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerasil Dangda, Theerathon Bunmathan and Kawin Thamsatchanan, Thailand will have a new-look side when they face Hong Kong on October 11 and Trinidad and Tobago on October 14.

However, coach Rajevac (below) is convinced the games will serve as vital build-up for the War Elephants, with important challenges to come in the months ahead with the 2018 AFF Championship and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 looming large.

Bento's side assembled at the National Football Center (NFC) in Paju, north of Seoul, on Monday to prepare for friendlies against on Uruguay in Seoul on Friday and Panama in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, four days later.

Korea Republic had a 2-0 win against Costa Rica and played to a goalless draw against Chile last month. Before competing at the AFC Asian Cup UAE in January, Bento said his goal is to identify problems and improve the team's shortcomings.

Ryan, who kept a clean sheet in Brighton & Hove Albion’s 1-0 English Premier League win over West Ham on Friday, will be given the October FIFA window off to manage a minor injury, Football Federation Australia (FFA) said on Monday.

Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold said it was in Ryan’s best interests to remain with his club rather than travel to the UAE.

As we edge ever closer to January's continental showpiece, the 24 AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 participants continue their preparations with the latest round of international friendlies taking place across the world this week.

Exciting call-ups, young and old, tactical decisions in the making and intriguing clashes all await over the next 10 days. So, join us as we take a look at some of the most interesting things to watch out for this international break.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Koo has been diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis. The FC Augsburg midfielder is also expected to miss German Bundesliga matches.

Koo, who has 19 goals in 70 matches, was looking to make his first appearance since Paulo Bento took over as head coach in August. He didn't play in Korea Republic's friendly matches against Costa Rica and Chile last month.

You cast well over a million votes for your best-ever AFC Asian Cup forward, and now it's time to turn our attention to midfielders.

So, here are 10 candidates for the spots at the middle of the park. Review the nominees and then choose your favourite midfielders to set the tempo for this all-star XI in the poll below.

We begin with nine candidates for the two spots up front. Review the nominees and then choose your favourite targetmen to lead the line for this all-star XI in the poll below.