Preston North End supporters should keep an eye out for some of their international players who will be representing their countries in exhibition matches on Wednesday 11th August.

Inevitably, the old club vs country row could escalate for PNE boss, Darren Ferguson with the Lillywhite’s in action on Tuesday 10th against Stockport in the Carling Cup.

Sean St Ledger and Keith Tracey have both been called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for their match against star filled Argentina. The match will be one of the first to be held at the impressive new Aviva Stadium at the site of the old Lansdowne Road ground.

St Ledger has cemented an established place in the Ireland team winning twelve caps and scoring one goal. Tracey is yet to win an international cap following his move to North End.

One of PNE’s new summer signings, Craig Morgan, will be in action for Wales on the same night as his country take on Luxembourg in Llanelli. The 25-year-old defender has won 20 caps for his country since making his debut in 2006.

At youth level, it was refreshing to see Matthew James as the captain of England at the U19 European Championships this summer. The midfielder put in a series of impressive displays as the young pretenders fared better than their woeful senior counterparts reaching the semi finals of the competition.