OXFORD United’s seven players away on international duty have seen their first set of games played during the November window.
Only Ciaron Brown played the full 90 minutes, while Mark Harris and Greg Leigh started for Wales and Jamaica respectively, but were both taken off at half-time.
Marselino Ferdinan and Dane Scarlett got action from the bench, while Idris El Mizouni and Peter Kioso were unused.
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Brown played on the left of a back three as Northern Ireland won 2-0 at home to Belarus in a UEFA Nations League clash.
Dan Ballard and Dion Charles netted for the hosts, while Brown picked up a booking in the final couple of minutes after he delayed a free kick, with the yellow card meaning the U’s defender is now suspended for tonight’s trip to Luxembourg, as the Nations League campaign comes to an end.
Although Harris only managed 45 minutes for Wales, it was an action-packed first half for the United striker in a Nations League clash away to Turkey.
He cut the ball back for Rennes midfielder Jordan James to finish sweetly, but VAR confirmed the assistant referee’s decision that Harris had been marginally offside.
Harris was then involved in a nasty clash of heads with Leeds United centre half Joe Rodon, and both players needed lengthy treatment.
Harris continued with a nasty bruise close to his right eye, and three minutes into stoppage time, he charged down the left-hand side and picked out Harry Wilson, with the Fulham midfielder striking the post with his effort.
It would be the last action for Harris, who was withdrawn at half-time, although Rodon said after the game that he and Harris were both okay.
Rodon said: “I’m quite used to them. It’s every other week in the Championship. The main thing is we’re both okay and that’s all that matters.”
Benfica winger Kerem Akturkoglu hit the post with a late penalty, ensuring the game finished goalless.
U’s defender Leigh started at left wing back for Jamaica in the first leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against the United States.
PSV striker Ricardo Pepi scored the only goal of the tie after five minutes, while Demarai Gray had the chance to equalise for Jamaica, but he saw a penalty saved by Matt Turner.
Leigh was part of a double switch at half-time, seemingly for tactical reasons, but Jamaica couldn’t find an equaliser and then lost Mason Holgate to a second yellow card in the closing stages.
Scarlett grabbed just over 20 minutes from the bench as England Under-21s were held to a goalless draw away to Spain, while Ferdinan managed just under quarter of an hour as Indonesia lost 4-0 to Japan in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
El Mizouni was unused as Tunisia won 3-2 against Madagascar, with Kioso also watching from the bench as DR Congo suffered a stoppage time 1-0 defeat against Guinea. Both games were Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
