Etheridge, Manga and Hoilett On Long-Haul Flights For International Duty

Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, centre-half Bruno Manga and winger Junior Hoilett have travelled far and wide for the international break.

They are among 13 Cardiff City players called up by their national teams. Etheridge, Manga and Hoilett travel more than 30,000 miles between them before arriving back in Cardiff for City’s Championship clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage next Saturday.

Etheridge has flown to Manila where he has linked up with the Philippines squad, while Manga’s Gabon have World Cup qualifier home and away legs against Ivory Coast.

Hoilett has arrived in his home city of Toronto where he has joined up with the Canadian squad preparing for their match against Jamaica.

Etheridge is currently Cardiff’s first choice goalkeeper, having played in all five Championship victories and kept three clean sheets.

London-born Etheridge has earned more than 50 caps for the Philippines, qualifying through his mother.

Their match against Yemen, being played on Tuesday, is an Asian Cup qualifying match and the Philippines are top of Group F with an unbeaten record so far.

Manga is focused on Gabon’s World Cup qualifier against Côte d’Ivoire, being played over two legs. Gabon host the first tie today with the return next Tuesday.

Hoilett’s Canada play Jamaica in a friendly at BMO Field, Toronto on Sunday (tomorrow).

The Reggae Boyz are in Canada for a rematch of their Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final when Jamaica emerged winners.

While Etheridge, Manga and Hoilett are on long-haul flights, midfield player Aron Gunnarsson will also be linking up with Iceland for World Cup qualifiers.

Iceland play Finland away today and Ukraine at home on Tuesday.

Jazz Richards is in the Wales squad for their matches against Austria at home and Moldova away, while Mark Harris, Cameron Coxe and Rhys Abbruzzese are young Bluebirds with the Wales under-21 squad.

Manager Robert Page and his team won 3-0 against Switzerland away on Friday, while they are now focused on Tuesday’s Uefa under-21 qualifying match in Portugal.

Cardiff also have five players in the Wales under-19 squad. George Ratcliffe, Adam Sharif, Jack Bodenham, Ryan Reynolds and Sion Spence are in the squad for their friendly matches against Iceland.

The fixtures are at the Corbett Sports Stadium, Rhyl today and next Tuesday.

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