Tomer Hemed is back in the thick of it – and Shane Duffy is scenting a trip to Russia.

Albion striker Hemed played a full 90 minutes for Israel as they won 1-0 in Liechtenstein in the World Cup qualifiers last night.

Meanwhile defender Duffy featured for the Republic of Ireland in their 2-0 win at home to Moldova.

Hemed was delighted to get action after a three-match ban put his Premier League was on hold. He had several headers blocked last night and always looked a threat.

Hemed will get game time on Monday when his nation play Spain.

He is not eligible for the league until Southampton visit the Amex at the end of this month.

Meanwhile Daryl Murphy’s first-half double set up an intriguing World Cup qualification trip to Wales as the Republic won.

The Nottingham Forest striker marked his 30th senior cap with his second and third goals for his country on a night when victory was the only option if Ireland were to keep their hopes of emerging from Group D alive.

They now head to Cardiff on Monday having to beat Chris Coleman’s Euro 2016 semi-finalists, who are ranked 21 places above them by FIFA, to stand a chance of progressing from a wide-open group.