Youngsters thrive as seven Derby County players called up for national teams
Seven Derby County players have been called up to their international sides
With the second international break of the season well upon us seven Derby players have received the honor of international call ups.
The list contains two first team players and five young players, a credit to Derby’s academy and youth system.
The Rams sit in eighth in League One and with the call ups, they won’t play a game again until Saturday 21 October after their clash with Charlton on Saturday 14 October was called off due to the international break.
So here are the seven Rams that will be playing over the international break for their national teams.
Conor Washington - Northern Ireland
Rams striker Conor Washington has been called up for Northern Ireland yet again as he embarks on his seventh season as a Northern Irish international.
The 31 year-old has made 39 appearances for his country scoring six goals and he’ll be looking to add to his tally this week.
Washington will face San Marino and Slovenia both in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers on Saturday 14 October and Tuesday 17 October.
Northern Ireland sit fifth in their group and all but eliminated from a chance at qualifiying for the European Championships next summer.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing - Guatemala
Mendez-Laing has been an instrumental part of the Guatemala side ever since he was first called up after switching his nationality in the summer.
He’s made six appearances since and has recorded two assists so far.
The 31-year-old winger will face Trinidad and Tobago and Panama on Saturday 14 October and Wednesday 18 October in the CONCACAF Nations League.
His Guatemala side are in third in their group and face the two teams above them, so a crucial couple of games for the Rams’ winger.
Charlie Lindsay - Northern Ireland U21s
Charlie Lindsay joined the Rams in summer after he was made a free agent by Rangers. The midfielder was playing for the Rangers’ B team but now plays for Derby’s U21s side.
He’s played for Northern Ireland from the age of 15 but is yet to make his debut for the U21s.
He’ll be hoping that this week will provide his first appearance for the U21s side.
The Northern Ireland U21s will play Azerbaijan and Serbia in the U21s European Championship qualifiers this week. They sit in fifth in their group unlikley to qualify for the tournament that will take place in 2025.
Darren Robinson - Northern Ireland U21s
Darren Robinson has slowly been breaking into Derby’s first team squad as he’s made appearances on the bench this season and featured heavily during the preseason.
He’ll likely make a full appearance for the first team this season.
The midfielder has been called up but is yet to make an appearance for the U21s side. He has played for Northern Ireland’s U19s three times and is due to make his U21s debut soon.
Dan Cox - Wales U19s
Dan Cox has been called up to the Wales U19s side. The 17 year-old has played for Derby’s U18s and U21s team since he joined in the summer of 2022.
He has played at international level for the U15s, 16s, 17s and also the first team in a handful of friendly matches before the 2023/24 season.
The centre back will face Austria, England and Montenegro’s U19s in the European Championship qualifiers.
His Welsh side are second in their group as things stand.
Carlos Richards - Gibraltar U19s
Carlos Richards has been called up for Gibraltar on a number of occasions. The 18 year-old joined Derby after he was part of Chelsea’s youth system when he was younger.
He has scored twice in 13 games for Derby’s U18s team and has also featured for the U21s.
The winger has played for Gibraltar’s U17s 18s and 21s team.
They will face Norway, Hungary and Latvia in their Euro qualifiying matches.
Cruz Allen - Wales U17s
Cruz Allen joined Derby’s U10s and has been with the Rams ever since.
The 16 year-old has made five appearances for Derby’s U18s side this season scoring two goals and recording two assists.
He’s made five appearances for the Welsh U16s side and three for the U17s scoring three goals in total.
Allen’s Wales side was due to play in the U17s Euro qualifiying mini-tournament in Tel-Aviv, but it has been postponed due to the current situation in the Gaza region.
It will likley take place later in the year.