Irish eyes smiling on Villa duo

Aaron Hughes & Steven Davis - Both started as Northern Ireland stayed on course for a first major finals appearance since 1986 with a 4-1 victory against Liechtenstein in Vaduz. David Healy scored a second-half hat-trick as Lawrie Sanchez's team maintained second place in Group F, three points ahead of Denmark though the Danes have a game in hand. On Wednesday Northern Ireland face a Sweden team boasting Olof Mellberg and a 100 per cent record after four outings.

Thomas Sorensen - Denmark were always up against it in Spain following the 20^th-minute dismissal of Niclas Jensen and were promptly put to the sword in Madrid. Fernando Morientes and David Villa both slotted past Sorensen before half-time and though Michael Gravgaard replied soon after the restart, an equaliser proved elusive. The Danes play Germany in a friendly on Wednesday.

John Carew - Norway face a daunting trip to Turkey on Wednesday as they bid to keep their qualification hopes alive after losing 2-1 to Bosnia-Herzegovina. John Carew penalty scored for the home team in Oslo, but only after first-half goals from Zvjezdan Misimović and Zlatan Muslimović had done the damage for the visitors, who leapfrogged their opponents into third place in Group C.

Gareth Barry - On the bench for England against Israel though he was as big a threat as anyone in Tel-Aviv in a blackboard scratching bore draw. Will almost certainly spend 90 minutes doing some more bench warming in Barcelona in a few days. However, Gary Cahill, Gabby Agbonlahor and Ashley Young were both in the Under-21 side that christened Wembley with an entertaining 3-3 against Italy a few hours before. Cahill played all 90 minutes but was culpable for the Azzurini's second goal, Agbonlahor started but was withdrawn at half-time while Young came on a second-half sub.

Wilfred Bouma - Bouma ended 18 months in the international wilderness by starting at left-back for the Netherlands as they drew 0-0 with Romania in Rotterdam. The Dutch nevertheless remain top of Group G ahead of Wednesday's match in Slovenia.

Stilian Petrov - Should start against Albania on Wednesday as he returns to the Bulgaria side after reversing his decision to retire from international football. The Netherlands' draw with Romania on Saturday leaves Hristo Stoichkov's men just two points off the lead in Group G.

Shaun Maloney - The Villa winger came on deep into added time at Hampden Park, moments after Craig Beattie had struck to give Scotland a 2-1 victory against Georgia. The triumph leaves the Scots top of Group B, ahead of France on goal difference though a fixture against world champions Italy on Wednesday will provide a stiff test of their credentials.