This week sees football’s international break continue into its second week, and although there are friendly fixtures featuring national teams to perk up fans from their slumber, the return of the club game can’t come quickly enough for many.

This week, then, is a good time to look around social media to see just how clubs are working on engaging their fans and keeping interest high in the club game ahead of the crunch period of the season which is about to hit very hard.

At the weekend, there are some heavyweight Premier League clashes, with Tottenham traveling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in a London derby and Southampton facing West Ham in arguably the biggest game of the season for any team so far – such are the stakes in the high-pressure relegation battle royale taking place at the bottom of the table.

This week is the calm before the storm, then, as clubs look to keep their fans interested with the goings-on at the training grounds on a quieter week than normal, as well as keeping an eye on how their players are doing with their national sides.

Manchester City and Arsenal, for example, have taken the time to create content around their players who are on international duty.

Most teams have done so in some way. Some are looking at performances and results, plenty of fans will be sweating over injuries, whilst others still appear to be treating it as a holiday of sorts, with clubs checking social media to see what their players are getting up to in sunnier climes. Manchester City have even presented their fans with a handy social media round-up on this front.

All these lads could be in action tonight…

Who will you be keeping a close eye on? ???? pic.twitter.com/cm5IFGYqTY

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 23, 2018

There could be up to 13 #mancity players in action tonight!

Japan v Ukraine. 1.20pm
Belgium v Saudi Arabia 7.45pm
Germany v Brazil 7.45pm
England v Italy 8pm
Spain v Argentina 8.30pm

Which game will you be watching? pic.twitter.com/Afer0Dp3fW

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 27, 2018

Other clubs, though, aren’t so attracted by the break. That’s understandable. Even though the World Cup is coming up, and these friendlies are necessary for national teams to build up to that, it does come at a difficult time of year for clubs. They are in the middle of a bruising run of games in which many are fighting on multiple fronts, at home and in European competition. Many are mainly focusing on what’s next, with big games on the horizon.

It's Spurs next for the Blues! #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/hVGhZpa9VE

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 26, 2018

When there’s such a big game coming up, it’s no surprise that attention shifts to that instead of the internationals. Indeed, for many fans, the break is simply an unwelcome time to get nervous about a game over a longer period of time that usual.

????#SaintsFC's @chazaustin10 looks ahead to the meeting with #WHUFC next weekend in the #PL: pic.twitter.com/uYPv6gCtYa

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 25, 2018

On the other hand, there are some clubs who are very interested in the break indeed. In the case of Manchester United, you might say they were strangely interested!

Interested enough to buy up the rights to show an international game live on their TV channel anyway. It’s an interesting move for United, but when you see they’re showing a France team which includes two Red Devils fan-favourites it makes a lot of sense. And giving fans a choice of what to watch when it comes to international friendlies is never a bad thing – subscribers to MUTV will at least be getting an extra bang for their buck this week.

Almost time for a French connection return! ????????

Can @PaulPogba and @AnthonyMartial help France beat Russia? UK/IRE viewers can join #MUTV from 16:30 BST tomorrow to find out: https://t.co/CzFqTjU22w pic.twitter.com/OGkl8gr1Rx

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 26, 2018

Then there are other clubs who are simply happy to have the recognition they’re getting this season, which has been cemented even further by England call-ups.

Burnley are having a magnificent season and are way ahead of expectations. So much so, in fact, that some of their players have received call-ups to the England squad – players no one expected to be anywhere near a World Cup team at the start of the season.

The Clarets’ Twitter account was all too happy to revel in this.

GALLERY: Clarets goalkeeper @Popey1992 trains with the Three Lions.

View: https://t.co/u4NzohgDwc pic.twitter.com/pH3YW1wScG

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) March 20, 2018

But even if Burnley and their fans are excited about goalkeeper Nick Pope’s England call-up, they have another Three Lions goalkeeper to worry about.

Tom Heaton is the club’s number one goalkeeper. Injured for much of this season, Heaton has seen his place in both club and country squads taken by his erstwhile understudy. But no matter how well Pope has done this season, there is excitement about Heaton’s return.

As much as Burnley might be delighted with Pope’s inclusion in the latest England squad, the club is clearly minded to pay some attention to those who aren’t away on international duty this week.

Back in business as @TomHeatonGK prepares to fight for his place. Read: https://t.co/JL2WUJ9XTn pic.twitter.com/isjtvoabEp

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) March 26, 2018