Yan Valery and Sean Fusire were the first of the Wednesday players to taste action during the international break.

Valery played the full 90 minutes as his Tunisia side drew 1-1 with Uganda in a home Africa Cup of Nations group qualification match on Thursday and now prepare to host Botswana in a second qualifier on Monday.

Fusire played the first 45 minutes of Zimbabwe’s Cup of Nations group qualifier away to Sierra Leone, also on Thursday, coming from 2-0 down at the break to win 3-2.

They now face DR Congo in another qualifying match at home on Monday.

Loanee Kieran Morrison was an unused substitute in Northern Ireland’s 1-0 Nations League group victory in Georgia on yesterday evening.

The match was also a double success for the ex-Wednesday pair of Pierce and Shea Charles, keeper Pierce saving a penalty and brother Shea then grabbing a 99th minute winner.

Northern Ireland are now at home to Hungary on Monday in another group qualifier.

Wednesday loanee, Harry Gray, played the last 30 minutes for the England under-19s in a friendly against their Republic of Ireland counterparts at St George’s Park yesterday.

Max Dowman scored the only goal of the game for the England youngsters on 70 minutes and they now move on to Marbella where they will take on Norway, USA and Belgium as they prepare for the under-19 Euro qualifiers later in the year.