Granit Xhaka is likely to take some time away from his usual international duties next month for the birth of his child, according to reports.

Xhaka’s teammate Haris Seferovic featured in the first of Switzerland’s two international fixtures this month, before leaving to experience becoming a father after the game.

Explaining the situation, Swiss captain Xhaka revealed that they’d agreed Seferovic would only feature against Ireland and then travel home. The Arsenal midfielder then admitted he’s likely to be in the same situation for the October break.

“There are more special things in life than football,” Xhaka said (via Blick). “For example, when you become a father. With Haris, it was agreed that he gives everything against Ireland and then travels home.

“And with me, it (the birth of Xhaka’s child) would probably fall on the next time we play.”

Switzerland face Denmark away from home and Ireland in Switzerland on the 12th and 15th of October respectively. Both are qualifiers for Euro 2020.

Xhaka and his wife announced the pregnancy back in May, with a post on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxpwkz0AInm/

For the player’s sake, hopefully the actual birth ends up working out well with his playing schedule. It’s obviously hard to predict exactly when it will happen, and travelling to Denmark and Switzerland makes it hard to get back quickly.

The two Arsenal fixtures either side of the break are Bournemouth at home and Sheffield United away, so those are the most likely to be impacted if any.