Eight Palace players played key parts in vital World Cup qualifiers at the weekend but boss Steve Bruce fears such success may take its toll on the team's winning form.

Manager Bruce knows his team will have to demonstrate great mental strength to continue their winning league form on Saturday against tenants Wimbledon.

With their momentum halted by the international fixture list, the Palace boss is wary that the physical rigours of World Cup qualifying matches and travel, plus the emotional strain, could take its toll on the eight Crystal Palace players who were on duty at the weekend.

He told the Guardian: "I'm mindful of the fact that last time we came back from international duty we played Millwall and lost and we weren't where we should have been.

"It's not just the travelling, but the mental game as well which takes a lot out of you. These are World Cup games that they are playing and even top Premiership managers say it's very difficult to get back into the routine.

"In one way it's very heartening for the club that we've got so many involved but the two fears you have are that they get back fit and that it hasn't taken too much out of them."

Among those away on international duty, there were three at Hampden Park, where Scotland beat Latvia 2-1, and two scored.

Dougie Freedman took his great league form on to the world stage by scoring his first international goal for Scotland, to equalise the effort of his Palace team-mate Andrejs Rubin, and beat the Latvian keeper Alex Kolinko, understudy at Selhurst Park.

Aki Riihilahti was in the Finish side helping England's cause by holding Germany to a goalless draw, and Clinton Morrison came off the bench to help Ireland to a 4-0 victory against Cyprus.

Jovan Kirovski was expected to play for USA against Jamaica on Sunday, while Wayne Carlisle played for Ireland U-21 and 19-year-old Gareth Williams scored for Wales U-21 in their 2-1 defeat by Belarus.

Meanwhile, Bruce has backed the tough stance taken by England boss Sven Goran-Erikkson over players and alcohol, and said it is a regime he has adopted at Palace.

Frank Lampard was dropped from the Greece game because of his drunken behaviour, while Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman are believed to have been spoken to after being spotted out late in bars.

Bruce said: "I fully agree with Sven.

"Gone are the old days, with the rewards that footballers get now and the public acclaim and role models they set themselves.

"Sven is right to punish people for the drinking culture because now the top players are athletes.

"I think it's right that we should be disciplining them.

We don't expect them to be nuns or priests and a couple of drinks in a restaurant is not a problem, but the night club thing is not on.

"The players here know that there is a time and a place and if they overstep the mark, there is consequences.

"But they've been magnificent and all worked hard, so it hasn't been an issue."