Schär – who netted the Magpies’ equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Watford on Saturday – has been named in Vladimir Petkovic’s squad for their fixtures against the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday, 5th September (7:45pm kick-off) and Gibraltar at Sion’s Stade de Suisse on Sunday, 8th September (5pm kick-off).

The United defender will be hoping to help his country close the gap to Ireland, who currently sit five points clear at the top of qualification Group D.

Eire’s Ciaran Clark, meanwhile, is on standby for Mick McCarthy’s side.

Goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka has been named in the Slovakia squad to take on Croatia and Hungary in two important fixtures at the top of Group E.

Second-placed Slovakia face third-placed Croatia in Trnava’s City Arena on Friday, 6th September (7:45pm kick-off) before facing leaders Hungary at the Groupama Arena in Budapest on Monday, 9th September (also a 7:45pm kick-off).

And full back Emil Krafth could also be in action when his Sweden side take on the Faroe Islands and Norway in Group F.

Janne Andersson’s men travel to Torsvollur in Torshavn to face the Faroe Islands on Thursday, 5th September before welcoming Norway to the Friends Arena in Solna on Sunday, 8th September. Both games kick off at 7:45pm.

Young midfielder Mo Sangare, meanwhile, has been named in the Liberia squad for their back-to-back fixtures against Sierra Leone this month.

Liberia face the Leone Stars in Monrovia on Wednesday, 4th September before travelling to Freetown for the reverse fixture on Tuesday, 10th September in the 2022 World Cup qualifying preliminary round.