When will Newcastle United have to release players to feature at the World Cup Finals?

Newcastle United could have as many as seven players called up to World Cup Finals duty over the coming week.

Magpies duo Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope are all-but certain to be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad next week - and there is genuine hope they could be joined by United team-mate Callum Wilson after he impressed in front of the Three Lions boss in last weekend’s 4-0 home win against Aston Villa.

There has also been some discussion over Dan Burn’s hopes of mounting a late bid to find a place on the plane to Qatar after the Northumberland-born defender produced a string of consistent performances during the first 10 months of his time with his boyhood club.

But the possible England contingent are far from the only Magpies players that could see action during the tournament throughout November and December. In-form centre-back Fabian Schar is key part of the Switzerland squad and Bruno Guimaraes will also be named in the Brazil squad that will face the Swiss in Group G.

Sven Botman has been in named in the provisional Netherlands squad and faces an anxious wait to see if his outstanding introduction to life on Tyneside is rewarded with a place in Louis van Gaal’s final 26-man squad and recent signing Garang Kuol could yet make the Australia squad for the tournament.

When will Eddie Howe have to release his players to take part in Qatar?

FIFA regulations for the tournament indicate clubs around the world release any players selection in their national team’s squad by Monday, November 14. Clubs do have the option to allow their players to depart earlier than the selected date but with United hosting Chelsea on Saturday, it seems likely any Magpies players will be released on the set date.

When will United players selected to play at the tournament return to Tyneside?

Obviously this depends on when their national side are knocked out of the tournament - but if any United player makes it to the final it seems likely they will return to England in the weekend commencing Monday, December 20. That will give them a week to recover in time to feature in Newcastle’s Boxing Day trip to Leicester City.

Any players arriving back on Tyneside at an earlier stage may feature in the friendly with La Liga club Rayo Vallecano, which will take place at St James Park on Saturday, December 17.