UEFA should have their bumps felt for organising a programme of international friendlies three days before the start of the new Premiership season.

England play Greece on Wednesday, August 16, in Steve McClaren's first game in charge and you can guarantee that some players will return to their clubs carrying major or minor injuries the following day.

It's just crazy that Premiership managers may have to change their plans for the opening game of the season because of such a ridiculous scheduling of international friendlies which could have been played a week earlier?