Joe Nuttall earned his first international cap after helping England C team to a 1-0 win over Wales.
The Latics striker started for Paul Fairclough’s side in the friendly, held at Altrincham’s Moss Lane on Tuesday night.
Magnus Norman had been due to play after receiving his first call-up, but the Oldham goalkeeper had to withdraw from the squad after a suffering a knee injury in training last Friday and missing the game at Dagenham.
Nuttall completed the 90 minutes for England, who won courtesy of Barnet midfielder Ryan De Havilland’s goal in first half stoppage time, and Latics manager David Unsworth said: “I was delighted for him. He’s been recognised by other people. He’s highly thought of by staff and the players for the job that he does.
“Okay, he’s not got the goals that I’m sure he would have liked but the way I look at it, the way he controlled the ball, took a touch and the finish on Saturday in the 84th minute, that’s not a player playing without confidence or playing with fear. He’s done everything right, how the keeper got a touch to it I’ll never know, but he did. He just needs a goal and he’ll be off and running.
“His baseline is he works his socks off and he’s a massive valuable member of the team. Defensively he does great with set pieces, he’s a big player for us in that respect as well. We need to give him the service and he just needs a goal.”
Norman had to pull out of the squad through injury, and is a doubt for this weekend’s visit of Solihull as Latics return to Boundary Park after back-to-back away games.
“I was speaking to the England coach before the (Dagenham) game and he would have played apparently, so I’m devastated for him,” said Unsworth, who handed a debut to Buxton loanee Mathew Hudson.
“It’s not anything major for Magnus but he’ll be touch and go for Saturday, if he doesn’t make Saturday he’ll probably be available for the weekend after.
“I thought Matt Hudson did terrific though, I thought he was great.
“There are no concerns in that department. Magnus is obviously the number one, and quite rightly so. But I wouldn’t even say Huddy is a number two, he’s a number one already. We’re really strong in that department.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel