Friday evening threw up some moments of interest for Sheffield Wednesday supporters - from Marbella to Trnava to Oxford.
The Owls had two international involvements from their current squad, with Kieran Morrison and Harry Gray both collecting international caps abroad.
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Winger Morrison made his first senior start for Northern Ireland, whipping in a cross from his unfavoured right foot to earn an assist for Ciaron Brown to head home a vital second goal in a 3-0 win over Ukraine. The UEFA Nations League match was played in Trvana, Slovakia due to the ongoing crisis in the hosts’ homeland. Former Owls Pierce and Shea Charles both featured in the win, with goalkeeper Pierce getting an assist himself for Brown’s match-sealing second. The table-topping Green and White Army take on Georgia on Monday.
In Marbella, Morrison’s fellow attacker Gray earned a another England under-19s cap from the bench, playing the final half-hour by replacing goalscorer Reigan Heskey - brother of his Owls teammate Jaden - in a 2-1 win over their USA counterparts. The match was played out one of a friendly round-robin event with Norway and Belgium - who they play on Monday - also involved.
In a more unexpected Wednesday tidbit, the new club of one of the most popular former Owls players in modern history was confirmed - as the signing of Fernando Forestieri was unveiled by a non-league club. Oxford City announced that the talented attacker had been added to their National League North squad. The 36-year-old teams up with his former Watford teammates Ross Jenkins, who is manager of the Hoops, subject to international clearance.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to England,” Forestieri said. “I’m happy to be here, and it means a lot to my family now who are settled in England. I know Ross [Jenkins] and Robbo [Paul Robinson]. He was at Birmingham when I played, and there are very nice people here. I will try my best to help the team.”