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George Bennett

Sunderland international round-up as duo miss out on more international minutes

Jewison Bennette and Corry Evans were both unused substitutes for Costa Rica and Northern Ireland respectively in the final round of international fixtures.

Bennette scored his first international goals with a brace in Costa Rica's 2-2 draw against South Korea on Friday. The 18-year-old, who arrived from Costa Rican outfit Herediano, has immediately announced himself to the Sunderland faithful with an 87th equaliser in the Black Cats' 2-2 draw at Watford in just his second game.

He consolidated his auspicious start in the Championship by playing a starring role for Costa Rica in Goyang. Bennette gobbled up two poacher-like finishes either side of half-time to overturn Hwang Hee-chan's early opener.

Son Heung-min equalised after Costa Rica were reduced to 10-men in the latter stages. Evans earned his 70th cap as Northern Ireland ended a run of five matches without a win by beating Kosovo 2-1 at Windsor Park on Saturday.

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However, the 32-year-old was named on the bench in the Green and White Army's 3-1 defeat against Greece in their final UEFA Nations League game in Athens. His brother Jonny won his 100th cap for Northern Ireland at the Giorgos Karagounis Stadium.

Bennette was also among the substitutes for Costa Rica as they came from behind to win 2-1 against Uzbekistan with two goals in second half stoppage time. The pair were the only Sunderland representatives on international duty as Bailey Wright was left out of the Australia squad after missing Sunderland's last two games due to "family reasons".

Daniel Ballard was unable to join Evans in the Northern Ireland squad after fracturing his foot in August just three games into his Sunderland career.

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