SIX of United's players have been handed international call-ups for the round of fixtures in the first week of the new season.

Olivier Bernard and Laurent Robert will be boosted by the news that they are provisionally called up by France for their game with Bosnia-Herzogovina in Rennes on Wednesday August 18.

Several stars have announced their retirement following a disappointing Euro 2004, and the Magpies duo will be hoping to make an impression under the new regime following the departure of coach Jaques Santini to Tottenham.

Patrick Kluivert has been provisionally called up to the Holland squad as they travel to Rasunda to face Sweden on the same night, while Craig Bellamy is in the Wales squad for their game with Latvia in Riga.

Stephen Brennan is included in the Republic of Ireland u21s squad for the game with Bulgaria on Tuesday August 17, while striker Lewis Guy has been invited to link up with an England u20 training camp in Leicestershire between August 14-17.