West Brom’s star of the international break

Gareth McAuley (Northern Ireland)

West Brom’s 35-year-old has demonstrated that age if just a number throughout Northern Ireland’s historic UEFA 2016 European Championship qualifiers with solid defensive displays and the all-important eye for goal. McAuley has been a rock for the Green and White Army’s mission to qualify for their first-ever Euro finals and their first taste of major tournament football since the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Only Group F’s leading top goalscorer and Northern Ireland hitman Kyle Lafferty (7) can boast about scoring more goals than the centre-halves’ three strikes throughout the qualification process. This particular international break will live long in the memory of McAuley and Baggies teammate Chris Brunt after their 3-1 victory over Euro 2004 winners Greece inside Windsor Park on Thursday night sparked nationwide celebrations.