Usually a round of December Carabao Cup games would be the ideal opportunity to rest a few star players ahead of the unforgiving Christmas schedule.
But because of the winter World Cup, this season is very different. The fourth round of the competition is handy ‘soft-landing’ fixture for those stars who played in Qatar before the Premier League resumes on Boxing Day.
We can expect to see much stronger sides than usual featuring those players whose World Cup ended a little earlier than anticipated.
Those whose nations crashed out after the group stage, or exited in the last-16 or quarter-finals, should be fit and ready to be involved.
Sportsmail takes a closer look at some of those who could feature as domestic action resumes in England.
Liverpool won last season’s Carabao Cup and are among the sides set to resume this season’s at the fourth round stage in the days ahead of Christmas
MANCHESTER CITY vs LIVERPOOL
The most attractive tie of the fourth round is undoubtedly Manchester City against Liverpool on Thursday night, which is one of two chosen by Sky Sports for live coverage.
While we might ordinarily have expected to see a few youngsters thrown into the heat of the Premier League’s most intense rivalry, this time we should see stronger line-ups on both sides.
The group stage exits of Germany and Belgium mean City duo Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne won’t have played competitively since December 1 – a gap of three weeks to this game.
Manchester City pair Kevin De Bruyne (left) and Ilkay Gundogan (right) both suffered nightmare World Cup group stage exits with Belgium and Germany respectively
Liverpool keeper Alisson (left) with Manchester United’s Casemiro after Brazil’s exit
That certainly strengthens the case to pick them against Liverpool to avoid any rustiness heading into the Christmas schedule.
City’s Spanish contingent of Rodri and Aymeric Laporte, as well as the Swiss Manuel Akanji, exited the World Cup at the last-16 stage on December 6.
And while it’s important any player at the World Cup gets some form breather, that’s still a sizeable gap between full-bloodied action.
Even those who went out at the quarter-final stage have a strong case to be included in this game.
That includes the England players Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips (City), Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), as well as Liverpool’s Brazilian pair Alisson and Fabinho.
Their exits were on December 9/10 but that still allows a healthy 12 or 13 day gap between the last eight game and the Carabao Cup, raising the prospect they too could well be involved assuming they’re not too fatigued.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs Burnley
Erik ten Hag always seems to insist on playing the strongest-possible Manchester United team at his disposal and it’s unlikely to be any different against Champions League high-fliers Burnley.
While the likes of Rafael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have gone right to the business end of the World Cup, meaning a central defensive reshuffle will be needed, United will likely have most of their other internationals present and correct.
Christian Eriksen came home early after Denmark crashed out and returned to an individual training programme before rejoining the main group.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes was part of the Portugal side that lost to Morocco
Harry Maguire may well be needed for Man United’s Carabao Cup fourth round tie with Burnley
Then a host more went out at the quarter-final stage – Brazilian trio Casemiro, Fred and Antony, Portuguese stars Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, plus Englishmen Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire.
Ten Hag will appreciate that with several leading clubs already out of the EFL Cup, and one of City or Liverpool to follow this week, United have a decent chance of going all the way.
NEWCASTLE UNITED vs BOURNEMOUTH
This game was moved forward 24 hours from Wednesday to Tuesday because of NHS strike action.
Nonetheless, Newcastle should have their five World Cup stars fit and available to take on Bournemouth.
Kieran Trippier started England’s first two group games, but wasn’t involved in the two knockout matches, while Callum Wilson made only sub appearances and Nick Pope didn’t feature at all.
Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier takes on Brennan Johnson during the England vs Wales clash
Wales forward Kieffer Moore rues a missed opportunity during their 3-0 defeat to England
Switzerland’s Fabian Schar was out at the last-16 stage and Brazil’s Bruno Guimaraes wasn’t involved after the group stage.
It should mean Eddie Howe can re-introduce the quintet into club action pretty quickly.
Bournemouth’s two Welsh players – Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore – were also back safe and sound after the group.
WOLVES vs Gillingham
We can expect some rotation by Julen Lopetegui anyway given Wolves are playing a League Two side at home.
Nonetheless, Raul Jimenez was part of a Mexico team that crashed out after the group, South Korea’s Hwang Hee-Chan went out at the last-16 and their Portuguese contingent of Ruben Neves, Mateus Nunes and Jose Sa at the quarter-final stage.
All should have enough time to prepare for this fourth round tie if called upon.
Hwang Hee-chan, of Wolves, was South Korea’s hero as they beat Portugal to get out the group
LEICESTER CITY vs MK Dons
A similar situation at Leicester, where Brendan Rodgers can probably afford to shuffle his pack against struggling League One opposition who have just changed manager.
Rodgers would have ben quietly happy to see his Belgians – Youri Tielemans, Wout Faes and Timothy Castagne – back nice and early following their hugely unexpected group stage exit. Likewise Daniel Amartey with Ghana.
England’s James Maddison, meanwhile, took a bit of time to shrug off a knock at the start of the |World Cup and then didn’t play a single minute anyway.
James Maddison ended up with no more than a watching brief during England’s campaign
BRIGHTON vs Charlton
It also worked out pretty well for Brighton, who travel to League One club Charlton in the fourth round.
Their Ecuadorian trio of Pervis Estupinan, Jeremy Sarmiento and Moises Caicedo all came home after the group stage, as did Belgian Leandro Trossard and Ghanaian Tariq Lamptey.
Spain goalkeeper Robert Sanchez didn’t play at all, while Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma was back after they lost to Croatia in the last-16.
Alexis Mac Allister, who has played a big role for Argentina, may well be spared some of the Christmas fixtures, however.
Alexis Mac Allister may be slightly later returning to Brighton after a good World Cup
SOUTHAMPTON vs Lincoln
The two Saints players at the tournament both suffered early exits. Armel Bella-Kotchap (Germany) and Mohamed Salisu (Ghana) should be fine if Nathan Jones needs to call on them against League One outfit Lincoln.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs Blackburn
Far from an easy draw for Forest, who head to Championship promotion hopefuls Blackburn.
However, none of their World Cup players went especially far in the tournament, which should help their cause.
Welsh trio Neco Williams, Wayne Hennessey and Brennan Johnson came back from Qatar after their group stage elimination, while Cheikhou Kouyate was part of the Senegal squad beaten by England in the last-16.
Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler didn’t have an enjoyable time as his team were thrashed 6-1 by Portugal at the same stage.