Aaron Hughes has been told he has a big part to play for Northern Ireland, despite being made to wait to break a record.

The Albion defender was left on the bench as his side beat Finland 2-1 in a Euro qualifier at Windsor Park yesterday.

He remains level with David Healy as his nation’s most capped outfield player and boss Michael O’Neill said: “The biggest decision I had to take was around Aaron Hughes.

“It’s never easy to leave a player like him out of the team but he accepted it like you hope. He’s still a valuable member of the squad.”

Albion skipper Gordon Greer picked up his seventh Scottish cap as a half-time substitute during the 6-1 home win over Gibraltar.

Christian Walton remained unused on the bench during England under-20s’ 2-1 defeat of the USA in his home city of Plymouth.