Southampton: Six Saints players round off September international action

Six Southampton players have rounded off their September international action during the past three days but had mixed results once again.

Key Saints men Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Jan Bednarek were both involved in 0-0 draws on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Hojbjerg played 73 minutes for Denmark as they played out a goalless draw away at Group D opponents Georgia.

The visitors had much of the best parts of the game but ultimately couldn’t find the winning goal that they needed to put pressure on group leaders in the Republic of Ireland.

Denmark sit in second on nine points from five games; two points behind Ireland and just one ahead of third-placed Switzerland.

Bednarek played the full 90 minutes for Poland once again as they solidified their place at the top of Group G with a draw against Austria.

With six games of their qualifying campaign now played, Poland are top with 13 points and have a two point cushion on Slovenia in second.

Elsewhere, there was a difficult evening for Saints midfielder Stuart Armstrong and Scotland as they were beaten 4-0 at home by Belgium.

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Armstrong was introduced into the action in the 68th minute, but most of the damage had been done by then with three goals already scored by the visitors to Hampden Park.

A superb display from Manchester City man Kevin De Bruyne saw him score the fourth and assist the first three of Belgium’s strikes in a very one-sided match.

Japan and Maya Yoshida claimed an important qualifying win over Myanmar this afternoon.

The Saints defender played the full 90 minutes as he and his teammates overcame their opponents 2-0, with Shoya Nakajima and Takumi Minamino getting the goals.

Monday afternoon saw Kevin Danso in action again for Austria Under-21s and they claimed another comprehensive win.

Two first-half and two second-half goals meant that they beat Albania 4-0, with Danso playing 79 minutes in defence.

He and his teammates are going head to head with England Under-21s in their qualifying group and both teams have now won their opening two matches in their bid to secure a place at the 2021 Euros in Hungary and Slovenia.

Callum Slattery was also in action on Monday and played 76 minutes for England Under-20s in their 1-0 victory over Switzerland.

The FA’s official match report stated that the Saints man “caught the eye” with his passing and movement when linking with striker Danny Loader.

England won the game thanks to a late stoppage-time strike from Spurs man Jack Clarke who is currently on-loan at former club Leeds United.