West Ham United youngster Josh Briggs helped Northern Ireland Under-21s record a 4-0 victory over Malta in European Championship qualifying on Saturday night.
The defender was named in Tommy Wright’s starting XI at the Centenary Stadium in Ta’Qali as Northern Ireland strengthened their position in Group F.
According to the Irish FA’s official match report, Briggs was involved in one of his side’s first-half openings. He got on the end of a Cole Brannigan delivery but sent his effort off target before the visitors eventually made their pressure count.
Shea Kearney opened the scoring after 31 minutes before Jack Patterson doubled the advantage shortly before half-time. Patterson added his second after the break and Bayley McCann completed the 4-0 win.
The result leaves Northern Ireland third in Group F with 13 points from eight matches, having won four, drawn one and lost three.
For West Ham, it represents another useful international start for one of the club’s Academy defenders during the break. Briggs is among a sizeable group of young Hammers currently away with their countries, with every appearance and result being followed in our West Ham international break tracker.
Briggs was also part of the West Ham U21 side that reached the National League Cup final against Boreham Wood earlier this year.
The defender could now feature in Northern Ireland’s final two qualifiers. They host Georgia on Thursday 1 October before facing Greece on Tuesday 6 October.
That second fixture comes only three days before West Ham return to Championship action against QPR at London Stadium.
