Youth-team stopper gets international start.

Academy goalkeeper Peter Burke helped the Republic of Ireland’s Under-17s to a 4-1 win over Macedonia in Skopje on Monday.

The stopper, who joined Sunderland on a two-year scholarship in the summer, was in fine form as the Irish ran out comfortable winners.

Jack Byrne scored a hat-trick with Dan Cleary adding the other goal as the Republic moved joint-top of their qualifying group.

Burke and his team-mates will now face Romania on Thursday before heading home.