Lewis Orford earned his second cap for England U20s on Friday, playing the first hour in a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland at St George’s Park.
The young midfielder, on loan at EFL League One leaders Stevenage, was partnered in midfield with Middlesbrough’s Law McCabe, who is also on loan in League One at Plymouth Argyle.
Chances fell for both sides, including the midfield pair, but Switzerland took the lead on 36 minutes through Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Winsley Boteli.
The visitors adopted a more defensive approach in the second half and kept the Young Lions out well but for an effort from Kiano Dyer - who had replaced Orford on the hour mark - which bounced back off the post.
The friendly in Burton brings Ben Futcher’s U20s camp to a close. Orford and Hammers teammate Finlay Herrick - who did not feature - will now return to their respective loan clubs, Stevenage and Boreham Wood.
Third-tier leaders Stevenage resume their league campaign against Lincoln City, who are also in excellent form, on Saturday 18 October. Herrick’s Boreham Wood, meanwhile, are in FA Cup action on Saturday 11 October at Eastbourne Borough. They then take on Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s in midweek in the National League Cup before returning to National League duties at home to Eastleigh.
Over in Campobasso, Josh Landers started his third game in a row for Scotland U19s as they played out a 1-1 draw against Italy. Gli Azzurri took the lead just after the half-hour mark, but Neil MacFarlane’s side equalised shortly after the break.
Despite going down to ten men, the hosts held out for a share of the spoils. The two nations will go head to head once again at Stadio Antonio Molinari on Monday 13 October, in their second meeting of the October double header, as part of their preparations for next month’s UEFA U19 Euro qualifiers.