After Darron Gibson was introduced for Stephen Naismith late in the second half of Everton's Europa League tie against Wolfsburg, to join compatriots Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady on the pitch last night, it marked the first time four Irish players appeared for the same side in a Europa League game, and the first time a quartet of Irish players appeared together in a European game, for an English or Scottish side since August 2012.
After finishing fourth in the Scottish Premier League 2011-12 season, Dundee United qualified for the third round of the Europa League the following season where they faced Dynamo Moscow. The Terrors earned a credible 2-2 draw at Tannadice on August 2nd, with no less than five Irish players in their starting XI - Sean Dillon, Gavin Gunning, Willo Flood, Richie Ryan and Jon Daly - but unfortunately were trounced 5-0 in Arena Khimki a week later where Gunning, Flood, Ryan and Daly started for Dundee United, with compatriot Patrick Barrett on the substitutes bench.
For the last time four Irish players appeared for an English club in European competition, we have to go back more than twelve months before Dundee United's games to July 2011 when Stoke City faced Croatian side Hadjuk Split. Marc Wilson, Glenn Whelan, Rory Delap and Jonathan Walters all lined out for the Potters, with Walters scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win.
With all four of Everton's Irish players seemingly in the forefront of Roberto Martinez's thoughts, let's hope we're not waiting at least another twelve months before four of Martin O'Neill's men are playing a European tie together!
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