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Ipswich Town: Here’s how Kieran McKenna’s players fared during international break with updates on Dara O’Shea, Sammie Szmodics, Aro Muric and more




A number of Ipswich Town players have featured for their respective nations during the international break.

Republic of Ireland duo Sammie Szmodics and Dara O'Shea started the game against England last night as the Three Lions eased to a 5-0 victory after a strong second-half showing.

Goals by Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, followed the dismissal of Liam Scales in the 51st minute after the defender fouled Jude Bellingham inside the box to earn a second yellow card.

Sam Szmodics. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Sam Szmodics. Picture: Barry Goodwin

The Boys in Green came into the game knowing that they were guaranteed a third-place finish in their Nations League group, setting them up for a relegation play-off in March.

Szmodic, who had an injury scare but recovered well, was substituted for Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer in the 86th minute.

O'Shea, who was winning his 32nd full international cap, played the full match at right-back despite battling a back injury that he has been suffering with since the 4-1 loss to West Ham at the start of October.

Dara O'Shea. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Dara O'Shea. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Blues winger Chiedozie Ogbene, who is likely out for the rest of the 2024/25 campaign with an Achilles tear, was recently named the Republic of Ireland's Senior Men's International Player of the Year.

He won the prize for the second year running, beating Brighton striker Evan Ferguson. And Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

KOSOVO

Town goalkeeper Aro Muric is likely to pick up his 42nd Kosovo cap when his side host Lithuania in their final Nations League match tonight.

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against both Kosovo and Romania regarding Friday’s abandoned game in Bucharest after the Kosovan players walked off in the 92nd minute following pro-Serbia chants from home fans, while it is alleged that objects were thrown at their dugout.

The game was still 0-0 with the Kosovans having dominated when chants aimed towards the visiting players increased in volume after a clash between Romania’s Denis Alibec and Amir Rrahmani of Kosovo.

Aro Muric. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Aro Muric. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Romania denies the chants took place and claims Kosovo’s actions were premeditated in order to get the result they need to finish top.

Romania is among the countries which don’t recognise Kosovo as an independent nation with Serbia claiming it is part of their territory.

SCOTLAND AND WALES

Cieran Slicker is with the Scotland squad which faces Poland in Warsaw aiming to avoid finishing bottom of Group A1 in the Nations League.

Slicker, who has won 19 U21s caps and skippered his side during their September games, seems likely to be an unused sub with Craig Gordon (Hearts) and Robby McCrorie (Kilmarnock) ahead in the pecking order.

The Scots beat Croatia 1-0 on Friday to end their long winless run thanks to Aston Villa’s John McGinn's only goal of the game.

Cieran Slicker. Picture: Ady Kerry
Cieran Slicker. Picture: Ady Kerry

Welsh pair Nathan Broadhead and Wes Burns both pulled out of Craig Bellamy's squad for their final Nations League B games against Turkey and Iceland.

Burns stayed at home to focus on managing a knock while Broadhead was dealing with a minor groin problem. The latter is yet to feature for Town in the Premier League.

AUSTRALIA

Blues centre-back Cameron Burgess played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet as Australia drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on Friday.

Burgess, 29, was winning his 12th full cap for the Socceroos, and faces Bahrain tonight.

Massimo Luongo, who came out of international retirement ahead of the October internationals but pulled out due to an ankle injury, was not in the squad as he is short on fitness.

Cameron Burgess. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Cameron Burgess. Picture: Barry Goodwin

ENGLAND U21’s

England U21 duo Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson come up against the Netherlands this evening with the game being streamed live on the England YouTube channel.

Delap won his ninth cap for the Young Lions after they drew 0-0 with Spain in a friendly on Friday, while Omari Hutchinson was left out of the matchday squad.