Reales Internacionales: Dorsett gets clean sheet as Savage and Rino prepare for extended window

Reading not only will be in the thick of League One action as usual, but will be without three players over the coming weeks. Jeriel Dorsett has been called up by Montserrat, while Leam Richardson’s midfield will be feeling pretty light without Zimbabwe’s Andy Rinomhota and Wales’ Charlie Savage.

No break and losing players is the worst of both worlds as clubs and national teams go into unchartered territory – instead of separate international windows in early-September and mid-October, as has been the case for a while now, the two windows have been placed together in late-September and early-October.

The longer window creates less disruption for the leagues that have just begun and those that finish when winter approaches, and gives national team setups more time to work in greater depth with their players. Seems like a win-win, but three first-teams missing for Wycombe and Bradford City is not ideal, while even the trip to MK Dons could be in doubt for at least two of the trio, given the amount of minutes and travel they will be enduring.

But as an international football aficionado, I refuse to be negative about the prospect of Reading players showcasing their skills for their national teams. So, here’s a breakdown of where our travelling three will be in action over the coming days.

After a shaky start this season, Jeriel Dorsett has proved few doubters wrong, all while playing out of his favoured position of centre-back. None of that affected his call-up to the Montserrat national team, where he played in the middle of defence in his side’s 2-0 win over Turks & Caicos Islands, getting their League C Group A campaign in the CONCACAF Nations League off to a winning start.

As well as a clean sheet, Dorsett won his eighth cap for the Emerald Boys, who at 176th in the world are the top-ranked team in League C and have aims of a League B return this window. At the very bottom of the world rankings a generation ago, Montserrat have made the most of their diaspora population to improve their status – Dorsett was one of 18 England-based players in the 23-man squad.

Next up for Dorsett will be back-to-back games against the British Virgin Islands on 26th September and 1st October, before completing their campaign with the return match against Turks & Caicos on 6th October. The good news for those of a Reading persuasion is travel is being kept to a minimum, as every match will be played at the same venue in Turks & Caicos.

Fans wanting to watch Jeriel in action can do so on the CONCACAF Youtube Channel.

Charlie Savage’s only two caps for Wales came against Gibraltar – one in October 2023 and the other in June 2024, the last time he was selected for his nation. However, after over two years away and despite playing a bit-part role for Reading this season, the midfielder has forced his way back into Craig Bellamy’s plans.

Wales will also play four Nations League matches this international window, in the UEFA version of course. In the previous edition, Wales were promoted to League A, and Savage now faces the prospect of matches with Portugal, Norway and Denmark.

Wales are in action tonight (24th September) at Estádio José Alvalade, the home of Sporting Clube, as the Dragons face Portugal, but Savage has not been included in the matchday squad. His first chance to earn cap number three comes in another trip for the Welsh on 27th September, as they meet Denmark in Copenhagen, before they enjoy the home comforts of the Cardiff City Stadium at home to Norway on 1st October and Denmark on 4th October. A quick trip up the M4 to rejoin the squad is good news for Sav and Reading.

Reading fans can hopefully see Charlie get some minutes against top class opposition on the BBC.

Also making a long-awaited return to the international stage is Andy Rinomhota, whose resurgence in the Reading team has seen him picked for Zimbabwe for the first time since March of last year, when he took his total number of caps to 13.

Also like Savage, Rinomhota could be in action later this evening, as the Warriors play Sierra Leone in Morocco, before travelling down to Harare for a home game against World Cup knockout stage participants DR Congo on 28th September. Rinomhota and co won’t be in action in October.

These are Zimbabwe’s first two matches in qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and the team ranked 130th in the world will be the outsiders in a group which also contains Equatorial Guinea. They will still have ambitions of a top-two finish and reach Afcon for the fifth time in the last six editions.

Those with access to beIN will be able to watch Andy make his return to the Warriors’ setup.