The domestic season has got into full swing and, just as quick as it got going, it’s time for the international break.
However, with the Uefa Nations League making its debut, this will be an international break like no other.
The days of endless, monotonous friendlies appear to be over and, in their place, an exciting new tournament that gives some of Europe’s smaller nations a chance to hit the big time.
Meanwhile, this is the first international break since the 2018 World Cup in Russia, one of the most memorable editions in the tournament’s history.
For countries like Spain, Brazil and Germany, it is the chance to bring in some fresh talent in an attempt to heal the wounds from the summer just gone, while the likes of France, Belgium and England are supplementing squads that enjoyed immense success on the world’s biggest stage.
Here are the 10 recently called-up players that we here at Squawka can’t wait to see in action over the coming days.
1. Leroy Sane – Germany
Age: 22
Club: Manchester City
Senior caps: 12
It speaks volumes about the disastrous nature of Germany’s World Cup campaign that one of the biggest talking points for Die Mannschaft was the omission of Leroy Sane from the squad.
Sane has only played 30 minutes of Premier League football so far this season for Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola favouring Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva in wide areas, but he at least has been given a much-heralded recall to his national team.
If Sane can channel the energy that brought him 10 goals and 15 assists during City’s title-winning campaign last season, he is sure to help turn Germany’s fortunes around, starting with their first UEFA Nations League match against France on Thursday.
2. Kai Havertz – Germany
Age: 19
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Senior caps: 0
Havertz became Bayer Leverkusen’s youngest ever debutant in the Bundesliga when he came off the bench against Werder Bremen in October 2016, at the age of just 17 years and 126 days. Since then, he has just kept on breaking records and also became their youngest ever goalscorer when he scored his first goal against Wolfsburg the following year.
Earlier this year, Havertz beat Timo Werner’s record to become the youngest player to reach the milestone of 50 Bundesliga appearances.
It is time for Germany to put the 2014 World Cup-winning squad to rest and trust in youth and, in Havertz, they have an exciting talent with an eye for a pass who already has 65 professional club appearances under his belt.
3. Joe Gomez – England
Age: 21
Club: Liverpool
Senior caps: 3
If Virgil van Dijk was the defensive rock that Liverpool needed to sustain a title challenge, Joe Gomez is the touch of class that might just see them win it.
With that in mind, it is great to see Gomez back in an England shirt – his man of the match performance in last year’s friendly against Brazil proved he can more than cut it at international level – and a game against Spain will be another challenge which will be relished by the 21-year-old.
After recovering from a long-term injury, Gomez has started the new Premier League season in fine form. His six interceptions made so far is the joint-best of any defender at the club, while the 10 aerial battles he’s won is only bettered by the domineering van Dijk (17).
4. Luke Shaw – England
Age: 23
Club: Manchester United
Senior caps: 7
It’s fair to say that Luke Shaw has had a tough time of it since joining Manchester United in 2014. Injuries, lack of fitness and loss of confidence from himself and Jose Mourinho have all massively effective the form of the left-back that showed so much promise during his time at Southampton.
However, that all appears to be behind him now as his form over the first four games of the season for Manchester United has been fantastic, with Mourinho himself saying (via the Telegraph): “The kid has to know that he has had three very good matches in the Premier League and today he was very good. I am very happy with him.”
Shaw scored his first ever senior goal in their opening day victory over Leicester City, while his seven tackles is more than any other player in the United squad – he will be desperate to add another international cap since his his last in March 2017.
5. Richarlison – Brazil
Age: 21
Club: Everton
Senior caps: 0
His senseless red card away to Bournemouth aside, Richarlison has made a blockbuster start to life at Everton.
In his three games so far, Richarlison has scored with all three of his shots on target, while his three dribbles completed is only bettered by Theo Walcott, who has played a game and a half more for the Toffees.
A bit of time spent alongside the insatiable talents of Neymar and Coutinho will do Richarlison no harm, and he will be keen to show the world that he deserves to share the pitch with them.
6. Frenkie de Jong – Holland
Age: 21
Club: Ajax
Senior caps: 0
With all the talk around Frenkie de Jong’s future lying with Barcelona put to bed, for now, his attention will now turn to international football.
De Jong has never played for the Dutch senior side before but, with his bright performances for Ajax last season, as well as in Champions League qualifying this, he could add some much-needed quality for the Oranje.
A warm-up game against Peru comes for Holland before they face a tough test against the new world champions France on Sunday.
7. Justin Kluivert – Holland
Age: 19
Club: Roma
Senior caps: 1
One of the more high-profile transfers of the summer window, Justin Kluivert has eased his way into life at Roma very nicely – 65 minutes across two substitute appearances has already yielded his first assist for the club.
With 15 goals in 65 professional games so far, it is now time for the 19-year-old to emulate his esteemed father and make a statement on the international stage with Holland.
It won’t be easy, a friendly against Peru is followed by a Uefa Nations League tie with World Cup-winning France, but if Justin Kluivert can come anywhere near to emulating the 40 goals in 79 caps from Patrick, he will be an icon at all levels of the game.
8. Jorginho – Italy
Age: 26
Club: Chelsea
Senior caps: 8
Given the reputation that followed Jorginho to Stamford Bridge this summer, it will come as a huge surprise to many to learn that he only has eight senior caps for the Italian national team.
Dubbed the ‘Pass Master’, Jorginho has completed a staggering 384 passes during his first four games for the London club – that is more than any other player in the Premier League and is an average of 96 per game.
With PSG’s Marco Veratti still missing with an injury sustained against Argentina in March, this is a big chance for Jorginho to stamp his authority on the Azzurri side.
9. Suso – Spain
Age: 24
Club: AC Milan
Senior caps: 1
It has taken a while for Suso’s career to get going. The Cadiz-born midfielder struggled to assert himself in his Liverpool days while his first two seasons with AC Milan only yielded eight first-team appearances; most of his time on the pitch was spent out on loan.
However, the past two campaigns have seen Suso really nail down his place at the San Siro and he has now scored 15 goals in 89 games for the Rossoneri since the start of the 2016-17 season and has already attributed an assist at the start of this season, while averaging 1.5 key passes per game.
Whether Suso will get a starting place straight away in the Spanish squad remains to be seen, but he is a pivotal part of AC Milan’s attempted revival and is sure to add to his solitary cap for his country.
10. Gedson Fernandes – Portugal
Age: 19
Club: Benfica
Senior caps: 0
Gedson Fernandes’ international career has already been a glittering one, with a Uefa European Under-17 Championship winners medal sitting alongside his place in the Team of the Tournament for that competition.
An exciting attacking-midfielder, Fernandes also scored for Benfica during Champions League qualifying and, at just 19-years of age, is being hotly tipped to be the next star off the conveyor belt of talent in Portugal.
READ MORE: 10 Champions League wonderkids from outside Europe’s top five leagues you need to watch this season
The post 10 recently called-up players we can’t wait to watch during the international break appeared first on Squawka News.
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