- Hamza Choudhury started for Watford in the Sky Bet Championship
- Marc Albrighton was also involved in the second-tier for West Bromwich Albion
- Ayoze Pérez played for La Liga side Real Betis against Real Madrid
- George Hirst helped Ipswich Town to maintain third place in League 1
- Kasey McAteer, Ben Nelson and Jakub Stolarczyk all featured for League 2 sides
It leaves the Hornets 10th in the division prior to a meeting with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (3pm kick-off). The game is set to be Chris Wilder’s first as head coach after taking over from Slaven Bilić this week. Choudhury, meanwhile, may make his 30th appearance of the season for the Hertfordshire-based club, if selected at Loftus Road.
Marc Albrighton’s West Bromwich Albion returned to winning ways in the second tier, beating Wigan Athletic 1-0 on Tuesday night courtesy of Daryl Dike’s first-half strike.
A starter at The Hawthorns, Albrighton featured for 71 minutes prior to being replaced by Adam Reach on the left wing, having played throughout the 2-0 loss to Hull City last Friday.
Carlos Corberán’s side have leapfrogged Watford into ninth position and are now four points outside the play-offs, ahead of travelling to Cardiff City tonight (Wednesday) in a 7:45pm kick-off.
A Real Betis side including Ayoze Pérez held Real Madrid to a goalless draw at Estadio Benito Villamarín on Sunday. The Spaniard, who started on the left wing for Betis, played 71 minutes of the La Liga contest before being replaced by Luis Henrique.
The result keeps Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the hunt for a European spot, sitting fifth in the league standings, three points behind Real Sociedad and four ahead of sixth-place Villarreal - the side Los Verdiblancos come against on Sunday in a 5:30pm kick-off at Estadio de la Cerámica.
Pérez could also be in action back on English shores on Thursday evening when Betis face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie (8pm kick-off).
Back in England, young forward George Hirst was introduced as a 72nd-minute substitute during Ipswich Town’s 3-0 home success over Accrington Stanley on Tuesday. Nathan Broadhead, Kayden Jackson and Kyle Edwards ensured a fourth-straight victory for the Tractor Boys in Sky Bet League 1.
Four goals were also put past Burton Albion last Saturday, with Hirst playing the final 20 minutes at Portman Road. Town’s recent form has seen them strengthen a grip on third spot in the division but will have their sights set on chasing down an automatic promotion place.
Five points behind leaders Sheffield Wednesday with 11 games to go, a trip to fifth-place Bolton Wanderers is up next on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
There was a third successive Sky Bet League 2 start for Kasey McAteer in the AFC Wimbledon side that lost 3-1 at home to Mansfield Town at the weekend.
McAteer’s 66 minutes of action at Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday was the sixth time he has been involved for the south-west London club since his January loan switch.
Ali Al-Hamadi’s goal wasn’t enough to prevent the Dons’ third defeat in a row, however. Remaining 15th in the fourth-tier standings, a trip to Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium comes next on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
He could come against a fellow Foxes loanee, with centre-back Ben Nelson currently at 13th-placed Doncaster. The 18-year-old helped Rovers to keep a clean sheet away at play-off chasing Stockport County on Saturday before playing another 90 minutes in the defeat to Harrogate Town on Tuesday evening.
Staying in League 2, there was a seventh Hartlepool United appearance for goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk. The Polish shot-stopper played in the 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park, when Callum Cooke’s goal secured a point for the north-east outfit.
The Pools are 22nd, three points above the relegation zone, as things stand. They welcome Northampton Town to Victoria Park on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
All times GMT.