With Trevor Carson having made his international debut this weekend, he’s joined a long list of players making their first appearances for their nation while signed with Motherwell.
We’ve taken a look at a selection of those who first came to the attention of their countries while plying their trade in ML1.
Paul Lambert (Scotland, 1995)
Having been prolific at youth level for Scotland, midfielder Lambert was afforded his first appearance for the full squad, whilst a Motherwell player, in a trip to face Japan in the Kirin Cup.
The young midfielder started and played 73 minutes in the 0-0 draw in Hiroshima, before coming on as a substitute in the win over Ecuador three days later.
Having then moved on a Bosman to Borussia Dortmund… and the rest is history. A Champions League winner just one year after leaving Fir Park, he then went on to play all three games at the 1998 World Cup and also captained his country 15 times.
David Partridge (Wales, 2005)
Recruited by Terry Butcher to become a regular fixture in the Steelmen’s backline between 2002 and 2005, his time at Fir Park was then capped off by a first start for his country.
Having represented the nation of his father’s birth all through the youth levels, he then received full honours at the age of 26 in a friendly win over Hungary.
Fearing he had been forgotten about as a prospect for Wales, a scouting trip by John Toshack to watch John Hartson at Celtic alerted the manager to Partridge, who then went on to win a total of seven caps.
David Clarkson and Ross McCormack (Scotland, 2008)
It would be a rare occasion to see two Motherwell players debut for Scotland in the same match but that’s exactly what happened in Prague in 2008, as George Burley took the nation away to play a friendly against Czech Republic.
Clarkson, the club’s current academy coach, had the debut to remember. The then-22-year-old was thrust into the action in Prague with his side 2-0 down. Gathering a cross in the box, he skillfully engineered some space before netting to give his side hope.
McCormack would then join him on the pitch as the Scots surged to equalise against the Euro 2008-bound Czechs, but they would be denied by a further goal from Libor Sionko, who settled the tie 3-1.
Chris Humphrey (Jamaica, 2012)
Jamaican international Chris Humphrey could have represented Scotland because his mother was born in Kilmarnock.
However, the winger was called up to play for his father’s country in 2011, at the age of 24, following two impressive seasons in claret and amber.
Passport issues prevented the pacey wide-man from making his debut until a year later though, then in his third season with Motherwell. Humphrey came on at half time with Jamaica already a goal down, but the visitors held on to their slender lead.
His first start came in a showdown with France, who won 8-0 thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema, Blaise Matuidi, Yohan Cabaye and Olivier Giroud.
Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland, 2012)
Giovanni Trapattoni couldn’t possibly ignore the form of Darren Randolph in his time at Fir Park.
The 6ft 3in stopper made his international debut in 2012, in the same year he was selected in the PFA team of the year for the first time.
The Irishman came on as a substitute to earn his first cap in a 4-1 win over Oman on 11 September 2012.
He again came on as a substitute for his country in a 2-0 defeat against Spain during the summer he was set to depart Fir Park. The keeper produced a stunning fingertip save to deny Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla, but conceded from a neat Juan Mata finish.
Zaine Francis-Angol (Antigua and Barbuda, 2012)
At just 19 years of age, Francis-Angol got the nod to gain his first international cap for his country in 2012, just one year in to his spell in Lanarkshire.
The London-born left back started for Antigua and Barbuda, his mother’s country of birth, as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Guatemala.
The young defender made four appearances at international level during his four-year stint in claret and amber, which resulted in four defeats. Francis-Angol and his teammates came within seconds of drawing with the United States, but conceded in stoppage-time to lose 2-1.
And not forgetting: Phil O’Donnell, James McFadden, Stephen Pearson, Steven Hammell, Brian Martin, Rob McKinnon, Steven Saunders (all Scotland), Brian McLean (Northern Ireland).