GAVIN GETS OFF TO FLYING START
U’s ace finds net on international bow
OXFORD United’s Gavin Whyte won’t forget his international debut in a hurry – he scored with his first touch!
The 22-year-old winger came on as a sub for Northern Ireland after 65 minutes in Tuesday’s friendly against Israel and fired home two minutes later after Sheffield United’s Conor Washington had been denied by keeper Guy Haimov.
That made it 3-0 and wrapped up the victory for Michael O’Neill’s troops. Fellow EFL player Stuart Dallas, of Leeds, had earlier scored the second goal after Southampton’s Steven Davis had opened the scoring.
But it was Whyte’s Roy-of-the-Rovers style story that understandably hit the headlines and capped a meteoric rise.
He joined the U’s from Irish League club Crusaders this summer after scooping the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award last term.
It came after he scored 21 goals to help the Belfast-based side win the Irish Premiership last season.
Amazing
Pre-weekend, he’d bagged three goals for the U’s in six games to show he can cut it across the water.
“The goal means everything to me,” he said. “The ball came out to me and the only thing I could do was hit it quickly.
“The last few months have been amazing. It’s all happened really quickly since I moved from Crusaders and I’m really enjoying my time at Oxford.
“I’ve got a taste for international football now and I want more.”
Boss O’Neill believes Whyte’s move to the U’s has already helped him progress his game.
“I’m delighted for him getting his goal,” said O’Neill. “Gavin has looked stronger and quicker, and has made a real impact in training with the squad this week.”
There was also debut delight for the Republic of Ireland’s Aiden O’Brien in midweek. The 24-yearold Millwall striker headed the Irish into the lead in Poland after being set up by some fine work from Bristol City’s Callum O’Dowda.
It made it two successive matches in which Millwall players had scored for the Republic, with sub Shaun Williams netting a consolation in the 4-1 mauling by Wales the previous Thursday.
It looked as though O’Brien’s goal would be enough to earn Martin O’Neill’s men victory, but Leeds’ Mateusz Klich levelled things up with just three minutes left. Nonetheless, O’Neill was delighted with the displays of EFL men O’Brien and O’Dowda.
“I thought there was some superb performances out there, notably young O’Dowda, but I have to say, on his debut, O’Brien did brilliantly for us,” he said.
“I have seen a lot of him over the last couple of year and the one thing you will get from him is that old word, the shift.”
Meanwhile, Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland kept a clean sheet as England beat Switzerland 1-0, courtesy of a Marcus Rashford goal.
Two players on loan at EFL clubs from Chelsea were on target as England U21s won 2-1 against Latvia U21s in a European Championship qualifier.
Raivis Jurkovskis gave hosts Latvia a surprise lead, but Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham, 20, headed home five minutes before the break from midfielder Mason Mount’s cross.
And Derby debutant Mount, 19, then latched onto Abraham’s pass and fired home the winner on 73 minutes to take England’s young guns to the brink of qualification.