International football will be the focus for half a dozen Motherwell players this weekend as their team-mates take a break before next week’s Premiership match against Hearts.
Liam Donnelly and Trevor Carson will hope to be included in Michael O’Neill’s plans for the Thursday friendly against Luxembourg before they face Germany on Monday in the European Championship qualifier.
Liam Donnelly converts the penalty against Hibs
Northern Ireland have taken maximum advantage of the earlier group games with Belarus and Estonia but the tough business of Germany and Holland awaits.
Donnelly’s sparkling form with Motherwell has given him a chance to resurrect what seemed to be a promising international career. He played 24 times for NI U21s but progressed to only one full cap in 2014. Carson has had limited opportunities at club level since recovering from a long recuperation spell (DVT) with Mark Gillespie claiming the guardian’s position at Fir Park.
Allan Campbell is now a regular (15 appearances) in the Scotland U21 line up and he will be joined by Barry Maguire (2 appearances 1 goal) and James Scott who has been called up for the first time. They have a friendly against San Marino in Paisley on Thursday before travelling to face Croatia in a Euro qualifier on Tuesday.
Jamie Semple will also hope to pull on the dark blue jersey as the Scotland U19s take on Japan (Thursday) and Spain (Monday) in Murcia.
We wish them well and hope that they return fit and ready for a trip to Tynecastle next weekend.