BIZARRE international scheduling has left Argyle without the services of Joe Mason and Rory Patterson for the Carling Cup clash with Notts County.

Manager Peter Reid conceded both men would have played against the Magpies at Home Park on Tuesday night but Patterson is representing Northern Ireland in Montenegro and Mason is playing for the Republic of Ireland under-21's against Estonia.

"It is a bit of a blow because Mason and Patterson would have played," said Reid.

"I am just the same as any other manager. I am a great believer in international football, as pathetic as we [England] were [in the World Cup], but I can't see what this fixture does for any international team.

"The big league starts at the weekend and I just can't understand it. The powers that make these fixtures, it must be FIFA, I find very strange.

"They're talking about too much football at UEFA and FIFA, and then they throw this game in."