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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).

Trevor Carson made his long-awaited international debut on Saturday, playing the full 90 minutes in Northern Ireland’s win over South Korea.

The ‘Well goalkeeper impressed on his bow in Belfast, pulling off a number of important saves in the 2-1 win over the World Cup-bound side.

“It’s all a bit of a blur,” he told BBC Northern Ireland after the match. “I sat down after the game and it all sort of hit me.

“I enjoyed it. There were a couple of moments I just had to take it all in.

“Hopefully this is the start of it for me. I’ve had a taste of it and now I want more.”

Carson’s next opportunity to turn out for his nation will come at the end of the season, when Michael O’Neill’s side play friendlies against Panama and Costa Rica.

Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell both featured for Scotland Under 21s in their 1-1 qualifying draw in Andorra.

The Motherwell pair were both starters in the match for Scot Gemmill’s side, as they looked to keep themselves in contention for the 2019 UEFA European Under 21 Championships.

The young Scots fell behind in the second half through an Andorran penalty, before Lewis Morgan grabbed a late leveller.

Extended highlights from Airdrie as nine-man Under 20s lose to Kilmarnock in the Youth Cup.

Stephen Craigan is certain his Motherwell Under 20s side will bounce back from the disappointment of going out of the Scottish FA Youth Cup at the quarter final stage.

The young Steelmen went down 3-2 to Kilmarnock in controversial circumstances at the Excelsior Stadium, with both Barry Maguire and Liam Brown being sent off.

Manager Craigan was also sent to the stand but instead chose to focus on the performance after the match.

“The players are a little bit deflated,” he said. “It’s been a tough schedule over the past few weeks but we will pick them up.

“Young players are resilient and they will bounce back. It’s character building.

“I am just more disappointed that I felt the best team today didn’t win and go through.”

Motherwell twice came from behind in the match, with Shaun Bowers and Jake Hastie equalising before a late free kick settled things for the visitors.

“We generally feel we were the better team throughout the game,” Craigan added. “Naturally, that doesn’t mean you win a football match.

“We had to defend their three goals better. I felt the goals we gave up were quite cheap. In general play, I felt there was only one team going to win with the chances we created.

“It was almost quite similar to the St Johnstone. We felt if we had got ahead and got the first goal, we could have went on and won the game comfortably.

“The overriding feeling is of disappointment. Not for me, but for them. They put so much into the game and worked ever so hard.

“We lick our wounds and move on. We wish Kilmarnock all the best and we move on.”

A dominant Motherwell Under 20s slipped to a 3-2 defeat in the quarter final of the Scottish FA Youth Cup against Kilmarnock.

Shaun Bowers and Jake Hastie twice brought Stephen Craigan’s side level at the Excelsior Stadium, but the visitors struck late to progress to the last four of the competition Craigan’s side won in 2016.

Unfortunately, the ‘Well youngsters performance, and the fixture as a whole, was overshadowed by controversy as ‘Well went down to nine men in bewildering fashion.

However, it may have been a different story had the Under 20s taken their early chances.

A terrific ball towards the back post had keeper Jasmin Keranovic helplessly scrambling across goal, and both Jordan Armstrong and James Scott were queuing up to turn the ball home, only for the former to nod his effort off the cross bar.

Shea Gordon looked set to open the scoring when Jake Hastie’s stinging ball across goal just needed a touch to send it home, but it was just out of reach of the midfielder and he couldn’t get enough on it to beat Keranovic, who was helpless again in goal.

Killie got off the mark in the 16^th minute through Samizadeh, who spun away from Dylan King before rather fortunately crashing his effort in off the post.

It remained that way heading in to the break, but Bowers gambled well early in the second half to nod the Steelmen level.

A whipped cross towards the back post was missed by Keranovic and directed easily home by the right back.

Craigan’s side again dominated until Kilmarnock burst up the park five minutes later, and the whole match changed.

Samizadeh was again involved, working his way in to the box and tumbling to the deck despite the slightest contact from the hand of Barry Maguire.

The referee didn’t hesitate and immediately pointed to the spot. To compound matters, the official flashed a second yellow card at Maguire after the young defender expressed his disappointment with the decision.

After everything died down, Samizadeh stepped up and finished the spot kick off to put Kilmarnock back in front.

But the ten men of Motherwell didn’t lie down, instead did the opposite and took the game to the Ayrshire side.

They drew level through Hastie just five minutes after falling behind when Liam Brown’s delightful clipped ball found the forward who took a clever tough before firing past Keranovic.

In to the last ten minutes, the drama continued in Airdrie.

Kilmarnock won a soft free kick on the edge of the Motherwell box and, despite getting a strong hand to Jack Paterson’s thundered free kick, the ball spun up in to the air and trundled across the line to put the visitors back in front.

In the aftermath, Liam Brown was shown a second yellow for apparent dissent, forcing manager Stephen Craigan to ask for clarity from the referee as to why his midfielder had been sent off. This resulted in the Northern Irishman being sent a few yards away and in to the stands to watch the remainder of the cup clash, which ultimately ended in defeat and frustration for 2016’s winners.

Four Motherwell players are in contention to play for their countries over the March international break.

First potentially in action are Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell, who are with Scotland’s Under 21 side in Andorra.

Scot Gemmill’s side kick off at 5pm UK time in the UEFA European Under 21 Championship qualifier, with the dark blues pushing to catch the Netherlands in second spot.

On Saturday, Trevor Carson could land his long-awaited first international cap with Northern Ireland.

The ‘Well goalkeeper faces South Korea in Belfast, with the game kicking off at 2pm.

Then at 6pm on Saturday, Cédric Kipré is in contention to feature for Ivory Coast as they take on Togo in a friendly in France.

The defender, who has been outstanding in claret and amber this season, was a late call-up to the squad this week and could make his debut.

Motherwell international fixtures at a glance

Friday, 23 March: Andorra Under 21 v Scotland Under 21, 5pm.

Saturday, 24 March: Northern Ireland v South Korea, 2pm

Saturday, 24 March: Togo v Ivory Coast, 6pm.

Cédric Kipré has won his appeal against the red card shown to him against Celtic.

A claim of wrongful dismissal was accepted by a judicial panel at Hampden Park on Thursday, overturning the decision and cancelling a resulting two-game suspension.

A yellow card will instead be added to the player’s record for the incident.

Kipré will now be available for selection for Motherwell’s next match at home to Rangers on March 31.

The 21-year-old, who is currently on international duty with Ivory Coast, was initially ruled by referee Craig Thomson to have committed violent conduct in a clash with Scott Brown in Sunday’s 0-0 draw.

The test for violent conduct, according to the laws of the game, is that a player “must either use or attempt to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.”

The judicial panel ruled that Kipré’s actions did not use excessive force or brutality against his opponent.

“We are pleased that the panel ruled in Cédric’s favour,” manager Stephen Robinson said of the decision. “It is a sensible outcome, something that all parties agree with.

“Cédric is now available for our upcoming games, which are hugely important as we try and reach the top six. We can now draw a line under things and move on.”

Cédric Kipré’s first reaction when he was shown a red card against Celtic was that he had let his team down.

Caught in an altercation with Scott Brown, the centre back was dismissed for violent conduct, a decision that Motherwell have appealed and which will be heard by a judicial panel on Thursday.

Once he had made his way to the dressing room at Fir Park, the youngster’s initial emotion was anger. Anger that he had made life more difficult for his team mates.

“When I got the red card I thought ‘I’ve let everyone down. Maybe they are going to lose now because 10 v 11 is harder,'” he said.

“But they worked really hard and played really well, so I can only be proud of them. All of them.

“I tried to win the ball. I then fell down and I wanted to stand up, but he pushed me away. My first reaction to try and push him as well but with my foot.”

Pending the outcome of the appeal, Kipré could potentially miss upcoming Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures with Rangers and Aberdeen, as the Steelmen push to land a top six spot.

Regardless of what happens, the 21-year-old says he will use the incident as part of his education and development.

“I don’t think I did a bad thing,” he added. “I just wanted to stand up and keep playing. But it happens.

“Next time I won’t react. That’s what people are telling me to do. I won’t react next time.

“I would miss two games. Two very important games. So hopefully we win it and I can be back for the games and help the team.”

Cédric Kipré has been called up to the Ivory Coast squad for their forthcoming matches against Togo and Moldova.

Although born in Paris, 21-year old Kipré qualifies for Les Éléphants through both his mother and father, who were born in the Ivory Coast.

The former PSG and Leicester defender has been sensational in claret and amber since his arrival in the summer, playing 40 matches in Scotland to date.

Kipré will join the likes of Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, Serge Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan’s Franck Kessie in Kamara Ibrahim’s squad.

A late addition to the squad, the centre back is also in contention for an appearance with the squad’s Under 23s, who are taking part in the same training camp in France and will play games against Togo and club side Beauvais.

Speaking of his first call-up to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations champions, Kipré said: “Obviously I am very proud.

“I heard a few months ago of the possibility. Then a few days ago, I met Kolo Toure and he told me he would call me soon, and then he called me yesterday.

“I feel I’ve made my parents proud. My mum called me last night and was really, really happy. I will play for Ivory Coast for my parents because both of them are from there, so obviously they are very proud.

“Last year I wasn’t playing professional football. This year, I am playing every game, so it is a bit of a new world for me.”