What is the UEFA Nations League and when are Preston North End's players in action for the Republic of Ireland?

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Sean Maguire, Callum Robinson, Alan Browne are away with Martin O’Neill’s men as the Championship takes a break for the next fortnight.

Graham Burke was named in the provisional squad to face Denmark and Wales but has been placed on standby after the squad was cut.

Both games take place at the Aviva Stadium with the Danes up first on October 13 before Ryan Giggs’ Welsh side are the opponents on October 16.

The matches form part of the next UEFA Nations League fixtures, a competition introduced to get rid of some seemingly meaningless international friendlies.

Ireland play in the second tier League B with three teams in Group Four.

O’Neill’s men lost their opening game 4-1 to Wales in Cardiff back in September with matches continuing through the next international break in November as the teams play each other home and away.

With tiers A, B, C and D in operation the teams that win their group move up a level and those that finish bottom drop down one, apart from in League D.

The four winners of the League A groups, the level England are playing at, qualify for the finals next June.

There is a spot at Euro 2020 up for grabs through the Nations League, the 16 group winners from the four tiers playing-off in March 2020.

The winning team from each of A, B, C and D will take one of the final four places at the next major tournament.

If a team has already qualified through the conventional qualifiers, which take place between March and November next year, the next highest-ranked side will take their place.

Away from Ireland, Chris Maxwell is on standby for Wales and Lukas Nmecha for England's U20s.