Wright in representative panel

Midfielder James Wright saw action in the green shirt of Northern Ireland in the last few days as he took part in a warm-up match for the Junior International side.

James Wright Picture: Roy Cathcart

James is one of 27 players chosen from the ranks of intermediate football to comprise a side that will compete in the Umbro Quadrangular Tournament in Newcastle at the end of April.

Team manager Harry McConkey must whittle his squad of players down to the final 20 that he will take to the competition, where the Northern Ireland team will play matches against Scotland, Isle of Mann and Republic of Ireland.

Between now and then a series of training sessions and practice games will take place, the first of which saw Wright in the side that defeated a Ballymoney United select 3-1 last week.

Should James do enough to warrant a place in the final squad, he'll could spend five days at the tournament and might also have a chance to represent his country in the UEFA Regions Cup later in the year, as ex-Ards player Kyle McCleery did last season.

10th February 2010