Three weeks is a long time in football – especially if you are a manager struggling for results.

So far this season three EFL coaches have lost their jobs – Paul Heckingbottom at Preston North End, Michael Duff at Wycombe Wanderers and Peterborough’s Luke Williams.

But plenty of others will be looking over their shoulders as the new, extended international break begins.

Take Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, who has endured the club’s joint-worst start to a Premier League season with four points from five games.

His side were also eliminated from the EFL Cup in midweek despite leading 2-0 against Brighton. It was the first time in 50 years the Red Devils had lost at home after being two goals up.

United then drew 1-1 at Fulham on Sunday, which extended the Cottagers’ winless league run this term – so pressure is also building on their boss Alvaro Arbeloa.

Rock bottom of the Premier League table are Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto de Zerbi needs results, and fast.

Next up after the international break? Manchester United v Tottenham.

They are not the only managers who might have cause for concern. But is this international break really the right time to make changes?

Over the past 10 years, it has been rare for a Premier League manager to be replaced this early in the campaign.

Even more so during the international break.

But could it be different this year? This first break is longer – three weeks rather than two – and comes later.

The September slot used to come at the start of the month when clubs had only played three league fixtures.

In the past 10 years, only two managers – Watford’s Javi Gracia in 2019 and Nottingham Forest‘s Nuno Espirito Santo last year – moved on during this break.

What about the October stoppage? Again, only two managers have previously lost their jobs during the same period – Francesco Guidolin at Swansea in 2016, and Xisco Munoz at Watford in 2021.

This suggests clubs do not tend to use an international break to change manager.

It is, though, far more likely to happen in November, with six bosses replaced in the past 10 years.

That does not mean managers are safe, though. The changes simply were not made during the breaks.

In the past 10 campaigns, nine coaches had left their jobs by the time the second international break came along – which is roughly where we are in the number of games.

So could some clubs opt for a change in the next three weeks?

Former Stoke, West Brom and Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis explains when the pressure can build for a football manager.

With the first international break upon us, rumblings around certain clubs that have started the season poorly have surfaced.

In my time, the October/November international breaks, the pause just after the Christmas period, and then early March would be the three sticking points for any manager who was struggling with results.

Why these breaks are used for clubs to make changes is plain to see. The pause in the season gives football clubs the chance to appoint a new manager with time for them to settle into their new role, to take stock of the surroundings, staff and time to prepare for their first game in charge.

After Christmas, usually the first game is an FA Cup match, which again gives the new boss a chance close up to see what they have to work with. First impressions can be a vital starting point, so again the manager has time to prepare and deliver their principles to the lads.

Personally, I’ve joined quite a few of my clubs midway through seasons, and have left a few clubs going the other way, but I do honestly believe that those international breaks, for the reasons I’ve given, definitely heighten the chances of struggling managers getting the sack.

I don’t see this September break as a flashing light, it is too early in the season, but from then on in, the dates I have mentioned really do come into play.

But this early international break doesn’t help any managers.

Whether your team is winning or losing, on both accounts, it’s a nightmare. If you’re winning you want to keep playing, and yet if you’ve started badly as a manager you want more time to put it right. Players travelling and the chance of injuries at such an early stage of the season is completely bonkers in my opinion.

While the evidence suggests things have to get pretty bad for a club to change manager early in the season, a few bosses are feeling the heat.

Manchester United

Simon Stone

Despite the disappointment of losing to Brighton in midweek, I did not see the trip to Fulham as having been ‘make or break’ for Carrick in the sense of his job.

Carrick himself said it would have been “ridiculous” to think that way – and I agree.

He got enough credit in the bank last season by steering United into the Champions League to ride out a poor start to this campaign.

I think the issue is United generate so much debate that a draw at Craven Cottage against a team that had only one point, and was bottom of the table, was always going to lead to numerous external inquests.

And in turn it puts a laser focus on United when they resume their campaign against Tottenham on 10 October.

Fulham

Nizaar Kinsella

It is unclear exactly how much danger Arbeloa is in, but there appears to be some substance to reports of disgruntlement among elements of Fulham‘s squad early in the campaign.

His significant tactical changes since replacing Marco Silva have left the Cottagers vulnerable at the back, although they were more solid in a goalless draw at Liverpool last weekend and in Sunday’s draw with United.

Silva spent five years at Craven Cottage, but Fulham owner Shahid Khan has shown a ruthless streak in the past when making managerial changes.

Claudio Ranieri lasted just 106 days in charge, while Felix Magath was sacked in September 2014, albeit having been appointed the previous season.

Tottenham

Sami Mokbel

The results go from bad to worse for Tottenham. Having spent about £300m on new talent over the summer the club’s owners are getting very little bang for their buck in terms of points (and goals) scored.

But there is no sense whatsoever that De Zerbi is under pressure despite the club’s difficult start – no wins from five games.

The vibes with regards to how the team is starting to play are positive amid a sense it is only a matter of time before they click.

Of course, for Tottenham, it needs to click sooner rather than later.

Crystal Palace

Sami Mokbel

Pierre Sage has endured an indifferent start to life at Palace. One league win so far hasn’t gone down particularly well internally, nor has the team’s leaky defence since the Frenchman’s arrival from Lens.

Allowances will be made for the unavailability – for a manner of reasons – of key attacking duo Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The 4-0 win over Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday eased some of the pressure, then came another clear sheet in the goalless draw at Leeds. The tide might be turning.

Nottingham Forest

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is not a man who tends to show patience, as evidenced by the four managers who took charge of the club last season.

In the summer, Oliver Glasner left Palace to became the next boss on the conveyor belt at the City Ground.

Forest are 13th but have only one win, at Aston Villa, and have struggled for goals – they have not scored in three home matches.

Saturday’s 1-0 loss at home to Coventry was damaging for Glasner. But surely it is too soon for Marinakis to be thinking of wielding the axe?

Burnley

Nicky Hayen quit Genk to spearhead Burnley’s bid to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The Clarets started the season as third favourites for promotion, behind West Ham and Wolves, but are winless in their first eight matches.

In his pre-match news conference on Friday, the Belgian faced questions about his future.

Hayen admitted he was under pressure and Saturday’s game against fellow slow starters Derby was a must-win fixture.

But a disappointing 1-1 draw, with the Rams scoring a stoppage-time leveller, left Burnley rock-bottom going into the break.

The Burnley board might now be assessing their options.

Derby manager John Eustace, who almost took the club to the play-offs last season, is not safe either with the club in the relegation zone.

Watford

A Watford manager can never rest easy in their seat. Alessio Dionisi, appointed in the summer, became their 27th permanent manager in just under 18 years.

Friday’s defeat at Bristol City left the Hornets with two wins from their first eight league games under the Italian, who managed Empoli before moving to England.

Sitting in 19th position in the league table, three points above the drop zone, it would not be a surprise if owner Gino Pozzo decided to make an early change.