When will the best World Cup players return to domestic action?

If Liverpool’s visit to Villa Park comes too soon, he may target Villa’s New Year’s Day trip to Tottenham for his return.

Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)

Kane equalled Wayne Rooney’s all-time England scoring record in Qatar, but his tournament ended in despair as he failed to convert a second penalty in their 2-1 quarter-final defeat to France.

Kane will hope to bounce back alongside fellow World Cup players Richarlison of Brazil and South Korea’s Son Heung-min when Tottenham return to Premier League action at Brentford on Boxing Day.

France captain Lloris may need longer to recover after Sunday’s shoot-out heartbreak, but could be back for Spurs’ home game against Aston Villa on New Year’s Day.

Commiserations Hugo, we're so proud of you 💙 pic.twitter.com/FnV3qY3hSh

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 18, 2022

Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) and Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig)

Both England teenager Bellingham and Croatia defender Gvardiol emerged as world stars of the future at Qatar 2022, but neither player will be back in action for their respective German club sides until late January due to the Bundesliga’s annual winter break.

Bellingham, who belied his 19 years to produce a series of dominant midfield displays during England’s path to the last eight, hopes to be back in action for Dortmund in their home game against Augsburg on January 22, while Gvardiol could line up for Leipzig in their home game against Bayern Munich on January 20.

Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) and Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina)

Griezmann, whose influence from midfield proved pivotal for France in both their quarter-final defeat of England and last-four win over Morocco, is unlikely to appear for Atletico in the Spanish Copa del Rey against Arenteiro on Thursday, but could feature when they return to LaLiga action against Elche at home on December 29.

Morocco’s midfield powerhouse Amrabat, whose box-to-box dynamism helped carry the Africans to the semi-finals, is scheduled to be back for club side Fiorentina’s home Serie A clash with Monza on January 4.

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