Peterborough United defender is part of an embarrassing defeat for Ireland Under 21s
Peterborough United midfielder Matthew Garbett was a second-half substitute for New Zealand in a 2-0 friendly international defeat to Ecuador in New Jersey on Wednesday morning.
Garbett came on in the 66th minute with his side 1-0 down. He had started the 2-1 defeat to Colombia in Florida over the weekend.
Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony has revealed Posh will receive a payment if Garbett plays in the World Cup Finals next year. New Zealand have already qualified for the Finals. Garbett would become the first serving Posh player to appear in the World Cup Finals.
Posh defender David Okagbue’s latest international stint ended with an embarrassing defeat in Andorra.
Okagbue and Ireland were beaten 4-0 by the minnows in a Euros Under 21 qualifying match. Okagbue played the entire 90 minutes against a team winning for the second time in seven qualifying matches.
The BBC had given Okagbue a high player rating after Ireland had lost a qualifying game against England 2-0 at Birmingham City FC on Friday evening.
Ex-Posh Academy star Benji Arthur made his England Under 20 international debut in a 1-1 friendly draw with Japan at Doncaster Rovers FC on Friday night. Arthur rejected the chance to sign a professional contract at Posh in order to join Brentford of the Premier League.
The PT understands Posh full-back James Dornelly turned down the chance to link up with the St Lucia squad during the international break in order to stay at London Road and work with his new club boss Luke Williams. Dornelly made his England Under 20 debut last season.