For most Premier League players not involved at national level, the international break offers a chance to have some time off, maybe take a short holiday or – like most fans – agonisingly wait for the return of domestic football. Not at Bournemouth, however.
While most top flight clubs hand their players a string of days off during the fortnight’s break, that is a rarity on the south coast. Most managers would rather continue with a Premier League game, however, Eddie Howe takes the opportunity to work his players even harder, while throwing a number of surprises their way.
The Cherries travel to Wembley Stadium this weekend to face Tottenham as they look to kick-start their season at the home of football, and former Spurs pair Charlie Daniels and Adam Smith haven't exactly been relaxing in the build-up.
“No, not for us – it is a lot of hard work,” Daniels tells Standard Sport sat alongside his fellow full-back after returning from a seafront breakfast with the rest of the squad.
“[There are] a few surprises here and there that the gaffer likes to throw in.
“We’ve done a few things, we’ve done rowing, we’ve done boxing,” Daniels explains, before Smith adds that they’ve even been testing their judo skills.
“Yeah judo that was a good one to miss,” Daniels jokes.
“It’s just little things like that to throw little curveballs here and there and once you get into it it’s enjoyable and I think everyone benefits from it.”
While Howe’s approach may seem a little unorthodox, it appears to have been working.
Of the four post-break games last season the Cherries failed to win just one – a 0-0 draw down the coast at Southampton in which Harry Arter missed a penalty - with a 6-1 win over Hull followed by a 0-0 draw with Spurs the standout return from two weeks off.
Mauricio Pochettino, then, can expect a stern test as his side look to land their first Premier League win at Wembley, and Smith knows his teammates will be up for a game at the national stadium.
“Yeah, it will be nice to go to Wembley,” says Smith, whose only experience under the arch was an England U16s game against Spain just weeks after the stadium was opened.
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He continues: “Quite a lot of us haven’t played there and it is always nice to play against your former team, me and Chaz came through the ranks there and our families are from that area so it is nice to go back there and hopefully we can get a result.”
One challenge Spurs will have to face this season is a number of sides looking to make the most of an appearance at Wembley.
While Daniels insists the ‘hoodoo’ surrounding his former club’s home form won’t play on their minds, he knows playing at the home of football can bring more out of Bournemouth.
“No I don’t think so,” he says when asked if he’ll have Tottenham's Wembley struggles in mind.
“They probably haven’t had the results they wanted so hopefully it continues for another week.
“We’ll just go there and not think about that, we’ll just play the way that we do.
“Yeah I think [Wembley can give us a lift], as Smudge [Smith] said you know, hardly anyone has played there so there is going to be a natural lift going to a new stadium, as everyone has done over the past couple of seasons you just get that little bit extra.
“We’ll be going there full of confidence.”
Bournemouth’s run against Tottenham since they made the step up to the Premier League has been far from flattering, however, they are no strangers to surprising the big sides.
A fiery 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last season saw the Cherries set off on a late season run, losing just two of their 12 remaining games.
With that in mind, Smith knows a result in the capital this weekend could be the catalyst for a similar spell of form this season.
“Yeah because last season it started from Manchester United away when we drew,” he says
“And we’ve beaten big teams before.
“If we go to Spurs with our A game and play the way that we can do then we can beat anyone.”
Saturday’s clash would have been one that many Spurs fans would have paid little attention to when the fixtures were announced.
However, with Pochettino’s side still chasing that elusive league win at home and with the likes of Daniels and Smith seeing the game as far more than a rare chance to face their old team at an historic venue, Howe’s peculiar preparation could see the Cherries packing a real punch come the Premier League’s return.