Callum Marshall helped Northern Ireland move to the top of UEFA Nations League Group C3 with a thumping 5-0 win over Bulgaria in Belfast on Tuesday night.
Hammers striker Marshall, who is currently enjoying a season-long loan with Huddersfield Town, was involved from the start at Windsor Park, as his team built on their away draw with Belarus in style.
Standard Liège midfielder Isaac Price netted a stunning hat-trick, while an own goal from Dimitar Mitov and Josh Magennis' thunderous fifth rounded off a memorable night for the home side.
With two games remaining, Northern Ireland hold their promotion destiny in their own hands, sitting top of the group with seven points from their four matches to date.
November will bring a home match with Belarus and trip to Luxembourg, with a return to League B for the first time since 2021 on the cards.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Mohammed Kudus' Ghana suffered a major setback in their quest to qualify for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, as a 2-0 defeat away to Sudan left them on the brink of elimination.
Ghana travelled to Benghazi in Libya knowing victory would lift them above Sudan and into second place in the table, but instead their reverse now means they sit five points off the pace with just six to play for.
Kudus started for the Black Stars, but was unable to prevent his side from falling to two second half goals.
Their slim hopes now rest on defeating both Angola and Niger in November, while hoping Sudan pick up no more than a point from their remaining games against the same opponents.
Meanwhile, Nayef Aguerd's Morocco continued their perfect qualifying campaign with a 4-0 win against Central African Republic.
Back to Europe and Andy Irving was an unused substitute as Scotland picked up their first point in UEFA Nations League Group A1 by drawing 0-0 with Portugal in Glasgow.
Fellow Hammers midfielder Edson Álvarez was also in action, playing the full 90 minutes for Mexico, as they won 2-0 against the United States in another friendly.
For England U19s, Lewis Orford made his second start of the Young Lions’ October Marbella camp, playing 68 minutes in a 4-2 win over France. Goals from Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, Fulham's Josh King, Chelsea's Shumaira Mheuka, and Derby County's Lennon Wheeldon secured victory for Will Antwi’s side in their final match ahead of November's UEFA U19 Euro qualifiers.
Orford and Hammers teammate Fin Herrick will now return to Rush Green to rejoin West Ham United’s development squad as they prepare for their Premier League 2 fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers next Friday.
Northern Ireland U21s concluded their qualifying campaign for the 2025 UEFA U21 European Championship with a 0-0 draw in Luxembourg.
Hammers duo Patrick Kelly and Michael Forbes started the contest, while Josh Briggs was an unused substitute. Their team ended in fourth place in Group F, with eleven points from ten games.
Finally, Krisztián Hegyi kept a clean sheet for Hungary U21s in their 1-0 European Championship qualifying victory away at Belgium. Hungary finish Group B in fourth place.
