One game, no goals, no starts, no wins. Not the most auspicious of international careers, and Aston Villa striker Brian Little's taste of life as a representative of his country died almost as soon as it was born.
After scoring 20 goals and winning the League Cup during an excellent season for a growing Villa side (Brian is pictured above playing for the West Midlands club in 1975, the year of his solitary England outing), Don Revie gave the quick, incisive forward, aged just 21, a place on the bench during a 1975 Home International tie with Wales at Wembley.
Brian came on as a late substitute for Mick Channon and soon made an impact by crossing for fellow debutant David Johnson to head England level at 2-2, which is how the game finished. Although he would blossom further as part of an improving Villa team over the next two years, he wasn't brought back, and injury sadly ended his career before he turned 27. (Matthew Rudd) |