Sunderland's Trai Hume labelled his senior international debut 'a brilliant night' despite Northern Ireland slipping to a narrow defeat in their friendly against Hungary. The Black Cats defender came off the bench late in the game, replacing Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard - who is currently on loan at Championship side Millwall - for the final seven minutes at Windsor Park but Ian Baraclough's Ireland side lost 1-0 with the goal scored by Roland Sallai ten minutes into the second half.
Despite the result, it was still a big night for Hume and he almost marked the occasion with a goal, forcing the keeper into a save late in the game. "It was a brilliant night and I thought we were going to nick one [a goal] at the end, you could see us pushing, and it was close," Hume told Northern Ireland's official YouTube channel.
"It was brilliant. I was a wee bit nervous but I got good applause when I came on and it was brilliant - I loved it." Of his late chance, he added: "I saw George [Saville] head the ball before that, I saw the ball come back in, and I thought I can win this and score but the keeper made a good save."
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Hume spent time out on the pitch signing autographs for fans at the end of the game, and he also spoke to his family. He said: "I came out to see my Mum and Dad, they are obviously very proud.
"The fans were brilliant - that's the reason why the stadium is so good." Hume joined Sunderland from Irish League side Linfield in January and had previously represented his country at U17, U18, U19, and U21 levels, but the 20-year-old was included in the full squad for the time this month.
Sunderland midfielder Corry Evans, who had played the full 90 minutes of Friday's 3-1 win at Luxembourg, was an unused substitute against Hungary. Sunderland's 22-goal top scorer Ross Stewart was also handed his first Scotland call-up this month, but he did not figure in last night's 2-2 friendly draw against Austria in Vienna.
Stewart was an unused substitute in Thursday's 1-1 draw against Poland at Hampden but was not included in the matchday squad against Austria. And Sunderland defender Bailey Wright was an unused substitute as Australia lost 1-0 against Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier in Jeddah. That game was effectively a dead rubber with the Socceroos going into it knowing that they would have to rely on a play-off in order to qualify for the tournament.
Elsewhere, Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil played 78 minutes for England U20 as they beat Germany U20 3-1 at the Colchester Community Stadium last night, with former Black Cats academy man Sam Greenwood among the scorers. The result saw England go above Germany on goal difference, and move into second place in the U20 Elite League. They are two points behind leaders Italy, but Andy Edwards' side still have a game in hand.
And Sunderland's on-loan Manchester City defender Callum Doyle played the full 90 minutes as England U19 booked their place at this summer's UEFA U19 Championship in Slovakia courtesy of a 2-0 win against Portugal at Chesterfield.
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