MK Dons duo Lee Hodson and Samir Carruthers both featured for their respective international sides this past weekend.
On Friday night, Hodson played 90 minutes for Northern Ireland as they ended their 2013 campaign with a 1-0 defeat away in Turkey. Michael O’Neill’s side were beaten by a first-half goal from Saint-Etienne’s Mevlut Erdnic, in a keenly contested friendly which took place in Adana.
The Dons defender started at right-back for the Northern Irish, alongside the likes of Manchester United’s Jonny Evans and Reading’s Chris Bard, earning his 14th international cap in the process.
ahead of this weekend’s visit of Bradford City.mkstadiumHodson has now returned to
Elsewhere, loanee Carruthers got on the scoresheet in Republic of Ireland Under-21s’ 5-2 UEFA European Championship Qualifying win over Faroe Islands.
Carruthers scored the opening goal of a clinical first half for the Boys in Green with a neat finish after latching onto Callum Reilly’s pass. Aiden O’Brien then seized on a defensive mistake to double the hosts’ lead before Notts County’s Jack Grealish added a third on 25 minutes from Anthony O’Connor’s right-wing cross.
Gunnar Zachariasen did give the Faroese brief hope with an 11 minute brace but two more first-half strikes from Anthony Forde and O’Brien sealed the victory before half-time and lifted Republic of Ireland into third in Group 6.
Carruthers and Republic of Ireland will now be preparing for their tough trip to Montenegro tomorrow night, where they will be hoping to leapfrog their opponents in the table and close the gap on leaders Germany.
Meanwhile, striker Patrick Bamford (below) took part in his first training session with England Under-21s ahead of their UEFA Under-21s European Championship qualifier against San Marino tomorrow.
Bamford has represented England at Under-17s and Under-19s but will make his first appearance for the Under-21s at Shrewsbury Town’s Greenhous Meadow on Tuesday night, if selected.
Finally, young duo Dele Alli and Brendan Galloway are currently mid-way through a three-day England Under-18s training camp at St. George's Park. The two starlets joined up with the national side on Sunday and will remain with them until Tuesday afternoon.
