3/1 To Win
A number of Derby County's players, from both First Team and Academy level, are away on international duty this week - and most of them got match minutes under their belt in the first round of matches.
dcfc.co.uk has taken a look at how the Rams’ players fared across the globe, starting with two members of Paul Warne’s squad picking up differing results.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
Forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing earned his latest international cap for Guatemala in the early hours of Friday morning in their CONCACAF Nations League clash against El Salvador.
The game took place at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala and the hosts ran out 2-0 winners thanks to a goal in each half Carlos Mejia and Pedro Altan.
Mendez-Laing now has five caps for his country after making his international bow in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the summer and he played 78 minutes before being substituted.
Next up for Guatemala is another home fixture in the CONCACAF Nations League against Panama on Monday.
Conor Washington
Striker Conor Washington came off the bench for Northern Ireland in their UEFA 2024 European Championship Qualifier defeat against Slovenia on Thursday evening.
The hosts were 4-2 winners in Ljubljana. In a chaotic opening 20 minutes Isaac Price cancelled out Andraz Sporar's early opener before Petar Stojanovic's deflected goal restored Slovenia's lead. Benjamin Sesko added a third on 41 minutes to put two goals between the sides at the break.
Washington was introduced into the action at half-time to claim his 37th international cap and Jonny Evans pulled one back after the restart for Michael O’Neill’s side, but Sporar grabbed his second in the 56th minute to halt any potential comeback.
Northern Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for next summer’s major tournament are extremely slim and they will face Kazakhstan at the Astana Arena on Sunday in their latest qualifier.
Darren Robinson and Charlie Lindsay
Young midfielder Darren Robinson made his debut for Northern Ireland’s Under-21 side in their UEFA European Under-21 Qualifier against Luxembourg at Mourneview Park on Thursday afternoon.
The 18-year-old played the full 90 minutes as Tommy Wright’s side were beaten 1-0 with James Alves Rodrigues scoring for the visitors in the first half, while Under-21s attacker Charlie Lindsay was an unused substitute in the game.
Northern Ireland’s Under-21s return to action with another qualifier against Ukraine at the Futbalovy Stadion NTC Poprad in Slovakia on Tuesday afternoon.
Carlos Richards
Under-21s winger Carlos Richards made his international bow for Gibraltar’s Under-21s on Wednesday afternoon in their UEFA European Under-21 Qualifier away to Georgia after previously representing them at Under-17 level.
Richards played the full 90 minutes at the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium and early goals from Otar Mamageishvili and Vasilios Gordeziani secured a 2-0 home win for the hosts.
Dan Cox
Under-18s defender and second year scholar Dan Cox gained his first cap for Wales at Under-19 level by coming off the bench in their 1-0 friendly defeat to Finland at the Jari Litmanen Arena on Friday afternoon.
Cox, who had previously represented his national side at Under-17s, Under-16s
and Under-15s level, was called up to the Under-19s group for the
first time earlier this month and was introduced into the action for the final 13 minutes.
Wales and Finland will meet again on Monday in another friendly at the same venue.
