Contrasting emotions for Preston international duo

Preston North End's Ali McCann helped Northern Ireland secure promotion to League B of the Nations League after winning Group C3.

McCann played the whole game in central midfield in a 2-0 win at home to Belarus and was substituted after 76 minutes of the 2-2 draw in Luxembourg.

His Lilywhites team-mate Stefan Teitur Thordarson also played twice for Iceland as they missed out on a promotion play-off spot in Group B4.

Thordarson played 68 minutes in midfield in their 2-0 win in Montenegro on Saturday and came on at half-time in a 4-1 defeat in Wales on Tuesday night.

Victory for Iceland in Cardiff would have seen them finish in second place and enter the play-offs for promotion to League A.

They will instead now face a play-off in March next year to determine whether they remain in League B or are relegated to League C.

Preston are 20th in the Championship and welcome Derby County to Deepdale on Saturday afternoon as they look to end a run of five games without a win.