Lack of international break is 'a joke' - Caldwell

Josh Magennis (left) and Ilmari Niskanen have been called up to play for Northern Ireland and Finland respectively

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says League One fixtures should not take place during international breaks.

The Grecians will be without Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis and Finland winger Ilmari Niskanen for this Saturday's game against Lincoln City after they were called up for international duty.

Matches are not called off unless a side has three players away with their country, with seven of the third tier's scheduled 12 fixtures this weekend have been postponed due to international commitments.

The two two sides in the division - Wycombe Wanderers and Birmingham City - will sit out this round of matches, while third-placed Wrexham, Barnsley in fourth and Lincoln City in fifth will all play.

Meanwhile, the bottom three sides - Burton Albion, Shrewsbury Town and Cambridge United are without a game while the two teams above them - Crawley and Leyton Orient - do play.

"I think it is a joke that the league still goes on when there's international players," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"If we can call games for three players why can't we call it off for two players or why don't we just not have it at all?

"League One is full of international players and most teams get games called off.

"I think it devalues the league a little bit when we have to play our game without our two best players and I think it's something we have to look at.

"But we've no problem next week in terms of what we do about it, it's a squad game, we believe in everyone in the squad and somebody has to come in and step up to the mark to replace these players next week."