DARLINGTON’s Joe Wheatley made his international debut in Dublin today as the England C team lost 4-2.

The non-league international side faced Republic of Ireland Amateurs in a friendly played at Home Farm, Wheatley coming off the bench in the second half.

The midfielder was sent on in the 76th minute, replacing Dagenham & Redbridge’s Charlie Adam, but was unable to prevent a youthful England side falling to defeat.

England boss Paul Fairclough had named his youngest squad ever, with six debutants in his starting XI, with the rest all involved when England beat Wales in March.

Wheatley had been on the standby list for that game, but for this one made the journey to Dublin and trained for two days prior to today’s fixture.

Next week, starting on June 4, Wheatley and fellow Darlington team-mates Josh Heaton and Luke Trotman will attend the Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy at Manchester City's training complex.

They will be involved among a host of non-league players, the week ending with matches played in front of scouts representing professional club across the country.

Other North-East players attending are Blyth's Dale Hopson and Dan Maguire.

FAI: O’Connell (Power 73); McCormac (Albor 78), McCarthy, Horgan (Fitzgerald 59), Murray, Hyland, Buckley (Doherty 66), Walsh (Foley 59), Stritch (Clarke 66), Murphy (Hayes 59), Daly-Butz

England C: McHale (Van der Vliet 46), Ling (Brown 56), Staunton, Horsfall, Pennell, Miley, Adams (Wheatley 76), Wright (Crawford 67), Koroma (Walker 46), Okenabirhie, Marsh-Brown