Gareth Southgate will speak about Wayne Rooney's international retirement for the first time on Thursday as the England manager names his first squad of the season.
The Premier League will enjoy a two-week break after just three matches as attention turns to international football and the small matter of reaching next summer's World Cup.
England sit atop of Group F heading to Malta next Friday, before Slovakia - currently two points behind in second - arrive at Wembley on September 4.
Southgate will reveal his squad for the upcoming matches at St George's Park on Thursday, when the subject of all-time top scorer Rooney's immediate international retirement is sure to dominate the conversation.
The 31-year-old announced he was calling time on his England career in a statement to Press Association Sport, having been informed by the Three Lions boss of his desire to recall him after omitting him for two squads.
Rooney sees this is as the chance for a new era and it will be interesting to see if there are any new faces.
Leicester defender Harry Maguire - so impressive last term for Hull - is pushing for a maiden England call-up, while Swansea centre-back Alfie Mawson is an outside shot. Middlesbrough captain Ben Gibson will hope relegation has not hampered his chance.
Southgate is a keen admirer of Watford's uncapped defensive midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah, who was part of the England Under-21 side that reached the European Championship semi-finals.
James Ward-Prowse captained the Young Lions in Poland and fellow Southampton man Nathan Redmond will hope to be involved after both making their senior bow in March.
Jordan Pickford was another member of the Under-21s squad over the summer and the Everton new boy will vie for a spot in the senior squad, which Joe Hart, Tom Heaton, Fraser Forster and Jack Butland were part of in the summer.
Unsettled Everton playmaker Ross Barkley will be unavailable through injury, while Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs are unlikely to get the nod as questions over their club future continue.
Theo Walcott, left out of Southgate's last two squads, will hope to earn a recall after being overlooked for the previous two squads, while Danny Welbeck is fit.
Reigning England player of the year Adam Lallana is out through injury and right-back Nathaniel Clyne is a doubt*, but Daniel Sturridge is available and Jordan Henderson - captain against Slovenia and Spain last year - is back available.
This meet up may well come too soon for Luke Shaw after making his return from ligament damage in his foot for Manchester United's Under-23s on Monday, while fellow left-back Danny Rose has not played for Tottenham since January due to a knee injury.
Kieran Trippier will be hoping to receive a second England call-up in a squad sure to contain Harry Kane and Dele Alli, while West Ham's Michail Antonio will bid to get another shot after returning form injury.
Jamie Vardy overcame a complaint to feature in Leicester's Carabao Cup, while 34-year-old Jermain Defoe will hope a restricted start to life at Bournemouth does not cost him a place.
Source: PA
