Two of MK Dons scheduled games have been postponed due to international call-ups elsewhere

Extending the international break further down the football pyramid to include League One sides is something Paul Warne is eager to see.

MK Dons now face a lengthy break between fixtures after seeing games against Bromley and Barnsley postponed due to international call-ups for their opposition, meaning both will now need to be shoe-horned in at a later date.

The postponements have left Warne scrambling to find teams who are also without games to arrange behind-closed-doors games with in the interim to keep his side fit and ready for the return of League One football on October 10.

Speaking out in favour of expanding the international break to include teams in the third tier, Warne argues that knowing there is a break coming up allows teams to plan ahead of time rather than leaving them frantically scrambling a week out.

“I think it should be (extended to include League One sides), for many reasons, but really for planning,” he said. “If you’re a team playing in the next three games and you pick up points, it’s a massive advantage. You’d rather have points on the board than games in hand.

“Picking up those points is massive, when everyone else then has to play Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday. That’s when injuries hit, when Cups come in and everything else.

“I feel for the fans as well who book travel, hotels, days off work thinking these games are going to happen.

“We’ve had two called off. I know it sounds awful but I didn’t know Barnsley or Bromley had that many. We’ve got none. You just don’t expect it in League One.

“It’s just cleaner if everyone is off because then you know you’ve got time to give the lads a few days off. Because the games are called off, we’ve had to reschedule everything, we’re rushing to try and organise games. It’s just awkward and it doesn’t need to be… well, we know TV companies want to put games on, that’s the honest truth.

“I would definitely endorse the international break.”

With squad depth growing amongst third and fourth tier sides as well, Warne would also be in favour of expanding matchday squads from 18 to 20.

He added: “I’d also endorse being able to name nine subs. It might have been a night where I wanted to use Sam Silvera. He’s not as fit as the rest of the group but if he was there, I might think he would be a difference maker for 10 minutes.

“It’s a lot easier for a manager to deal with a 20-man squad when all the players have a chance on a matchday. It’s a win-win for everyone, and I don’t know why that doesn’t happen either.”