Three West Ham United youngsters started for England U20s in a 1-1 friendly international draw with Japan on Friday evening.
Goalkeeper **Finlay Herrick**, midfielder **Lewis Orford** and forward **Joshua Ajala** were all in the XI from kick-off at Doncaster Rovers’ Eco-Power Stadium, with Herrick and Orford completing the full 90 minutes.
Manchester United’s Shea Lacey replaced Ajala on the hour-mark and scored the opening goal of the game on 77 minutes, only for Hisatsugu Ishii to level for Japan in the final minute of added-time at the end of the second half.
Earlier, Orford went close to netting, seeing one shot saved by goalkeeper Alexandre Pisano and another audacious attempt from inside his own half land just wide of the post.
Herrick and Ajala were both starting their first game at U20 level, while Orford earned his third cap for Ben Futcher’s side.
Elsewhere, **Callum Marshall** was an unused substitute as Northern Ireland’s senior side fell to a 1-0 defeat in Slovakia in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
The loss in Košice to Tomáš Bobček’s late goal ended Northern Ireland’s hopes of a top-two finish in Group A, but they had already been guaranteed a play-off spot after winning their UEFA Nations League group earlier this year.
Marshall will hope for game-time when his country finish their Group A campaign at home to Luxembourg on Monday evening.