Southampton FC International Roundup As 10 Players Represent Country

Saints, winless in their first three games, switch their attention to Manchester United, who travel to St Mary’s on Saturday.

Russell Martin has worked with reduced numbers in training this week due a number of players being called up for their national teams.

Here’s a full rundown of how those players fared during the international window…

England

Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis skippered England under-21s during their 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland in Ballymena on Friday, September 6.

The 22 year old also wore the armband during the first half of their 4-1 win over Austria at Luton’s Kenilworth Road on Monday, September 9.

He was withdrawn at the break – perhaps with an eye on Southampton’s game against Manchester United this Saturday – and has since returned to training at Staplewood.

Fellow Saints defender Nathan Wood was subbed on for the final eight minutes of that win over Austria.

Dom Ballard, who is currently at Blackpool on loan, scored a late equaliser for England U20s in a 1-1 draw with Turkey.

Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw represented England under-19s twice, playing out a 1-1 draw with Croatia before suffering a 3-2 defeat against Germany.

It was in that defeat to Germany that Southampton’s talented teenagers shone brightest. Amo-Ameyaw set up England’s opener before Dibling scored the second six minutes from time.

Republic of Ireland

Midfielder Will Smallbone played 75 minutes for Ireland in their 2-0 defeat to England, during which former internationals Jack Grealish and Declan Rice scored on their return to Dublin.

Smallbone also started Ireland’s Nations League fixture against Greece, which ended with a 2-0 defeat.

Northern Ireland

Loaned-out midfielder Shea Charles helped Northern Ireland secure a 2-0 win over Luxembourg in their first game of the Nations League campaign.

Michael O’Neill’s side didn’t fare as well in their second game, losing 1-0 in Bulgaria, although Charles was named player of the match.

A bittersweet night for Shea Charles as he collects the @EE Player of the Match in Bulgaria🏆 #GAWA #POTM pic.twitter.com/zK0fe0tqrW

— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) September 8, 2024

Poland

Jan Bednarek played two full 90 minutes as Poland beat Scotland 3-2 and lost 1-0 against Croatia.

Chile

Summer signing Ben Brereton Diaz was a late substitute in Chile’s 3-0 defeat to Argentina in World Cup qualification.

The Stoke-born forward started their second game – at home to Bolivia – but was strangely subbed off after 35 minutes.

🛫 Chile
🛬 Argentina

Ready to represent 🇨🇱👍 pic.twitter.com/meYexr2Uwa

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) September 5, 2024

There is no immediate indication that Brereton Diaz has suffered an injury. Chile went on to lose 2-1.

Portugal

Midfielder Mateus Fernandes earned another cap for Portugal’s under-21s. He played 70 minutes in their 2-0 win over Croatia in Euro qualifying.

Called up but didn’t play

Loanee Lesley Ugochukwu was an unused substitute for France’s under-21’s games against Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Samurai Saint 🇯🇵😇 pic.twitter.com/rF37eV6mMe

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) September 3, 2024

Fellow summer arrival Yukinari Sugawara was also unused during the international break as Japan thrashed China (7-0) and Bahrain (5-0).