SCUNTHORPE United will come out of the international break stronger than when they entered it.

That staunch belief comes from club captain Cliff Byrne, who is set to earn his first league start of the season, after just eight minutes as a substitute at QPR so far, when the Iron host Crystal Palace today.

Last season Scunthorpe used the international break to stunning effect as they went from winning one league game in five before it – losing four – to a four-game unbeaten streak in the matches that followed.

It is a sign that United know how to get the best out of the two-week enforced absence from action.

But it is not just on the points front that the 28-year-old feels the club will be better off.

Nigel Adkins has been scouring the loan market for reinforcements and despite missing out this week on Bolton's Danny Ward, Arsenal's Henri Lansbury and West Brom's Chris Wood, Byrne is confident his manager will capture the right man eventually.

"I know what the gaffer is all about and he wants the right sort of player in this club," Byrne told the Telegraph.

"He will leave no stone unturned until he gets what he wants. He won't accept second best.

"It doesn't really concern me what the gaffer is looking for. When he brings a player through the door we know he is coming in to improve the squad.

"Whatever that name may be, we know it is going to help us."

Byrne is eager to see his side double their league points tally today against Crystal Palace, so they can use that confidence boost over the two-week break.

"Going into a break you want to finish on a high, you want to finish on a positive note and that is what we are aiming to do," added Byrne.

"(International breaks) can be a good thing or a bad thing.

"If you are gathering momentum it is nice to keep playing and if you are not it is nice to recharge the batteries.

"We have always maximised it and done it well when international breaks have come round so for us as a squad, and me personally, we are comfortable with it."

Their comfort levels will be higher if they can claim victory today.