JON Russell’s hopes of playing in a World Cup suffered a huge blow as he was sent off in Jamaica’s 0-0 draw with Caribbean minnows Curacao.

Jamaica drew their final two games to finish behind the former Dutch colony in their group.

They conceded a late leveller in a 1-1 draw at Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday evening and were then held at home to Curacao on Tuesday in Kingston.

Against Curacao, whose assistant manager is former Red Dean Gorre, Russell came off the bench in the 63rd minute and picked up two yellow cards, the final in the 86th minute.

Russell had played 81 minutes against Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica’s hopes of making the World Cup automatically are now over as they now head into a play-off tournament in March but manager Steve McLaren resigned immediately after the match.

Jamaica will be unseeded in that tournament.

There was better news for Patrick Kelly who picked up his first senior cap for Northern Ireland.

They lost 1-0 late on in Slovakia on Friday, with Kelly an unused substitute.

He then came off the bench in a 1-0 win in Belfast over Luxembourg on Monday.

Kelly said: “It's something I've been working towards now for ages.

“"I'm really happy, a proud moment to make my debut.

"I was on standby for the last two camps when I knew I wasn't too far away. I'd spoken to Michael then and then obviously there were a couple of injuries in midfield, so I knew there was a good chance I could get called up and thankfully that has happened."

Jono Bland played 65 minutes for Wales' under 21s in their 3-0 loss against Belarus in Georgia on Friday.

Bayley McCann was an unused substitute in Northern Ireland under 21s’s 1-0 win at home to Latvia last Thursday then came off the bench late on as they went down 4-0 in Greece on Tuesday.

Aston Ellard was not involved in either of Malta under 21s’s games.