Manchester City and United targets among 10 potential debutants to watch this week
Having taken a closer look at the three England youngsters hoping to make their senior international bow in the coming week, we turn our attentions away from the Three Lions and pick out ten potential debutants worth keeping an eye on over the break.
Potential debut: Ukraine (h) - Friendly (Wed 10th) OR Poland (a) - Nations League (Sunday 14th)
While this wasn’t Barella’s first call up to the Azzurri squad, the upcoming double header looks set to hand the youngster a first appearance in a new look Italy side following their failure to qualify for the World Cup. The Cagliari midfielder is tipped to start the friendly with Ukraine in Genoa after a strong start to the season that has seen his list of suitors extend beyond Serie a’s big hitters. A busy player in and out of position that packs a punch from distance, Barella will be keen to make his mark ahead of a trip to Poland.
Potential debut: Iraq (n) - Friendly (Thurs 11th) OR Brazil (n) - Friendly (Tues 16th)
Another bright spark in Serie A at the start of the season, De Paul’s output has dwindled in recent weeks but tallies of four goals and two assists in eight league starts have caught the attention of Lionel Scaloni. Capable of operating from either flank or centrally, the 24-year-old ranks fourth in Italy’s top tier for key passes per game (3.1).
Potential debut: Poland (a) - Nations League (Thurs 11th) OR Scotland - Friendly (Sunday 14th)
As Portugal look to rejuvenate an ageing centre-back pairing, with Pepe, Jose Fonte and Bruno Alves all vying for places in recent times, Mendes has made a belated appearance in the European champions squad. The 28-year-old is embarking on a second season at Montpellier and was pivotal to an excellent defensive record last time around that has carried on into the new campaign. A WhoScored.com rating of 7.15 from nine appearances is enough to have earned a place in Ligue 1’s best XI so far.
Potential debut: Spain (h) - Friendly (Thurs 11th) OR Rep. of Ireland - Nations League (Tues 16th)
When Swansea sold first choice centre-back pairing Alfie Mawson and Federico Fernandez the lack of senior replacements will have concerned the fans. If Rodon’s start to life in the first team is anything to go by they needn’t have feared, however, and the 20-year-old has fully warranted a senior Wales call-up. The Championship outfit’s highest rated player by a distance so far (7.33), Rodon has helped keep six clean sheets in his ten league starts.
Potential debut: Wales (a) - Friendly (Thurs 11th) OR England (h) - Nations League (Mon 15th)
Given the bad blood between new Spain coach Luis Enrique and Jordi Alba, the left-back spot in la Roja’s line-up appears to be up for grabs. Marcos Alonso seems to be leading the race as things stand but Jonny will hope to put pressure on the Chelsea star after an impressive start to life at Wolves. The 24-year-old has been an ever present at left wing-back, scored his first goal for the club in victory over Southampton and has helped the side keep five clean sheets in his last six appearances.
Potential debut: Iceland (h) - Friendly (Thurs 11th) OR Germany (h) - Nations League (Tues 16th)
Reportedly a big money transfer target of Manchester City, Ndombele was part of a Lyon side that earned a shock victory at the Etihad last month. That was actually a relatively subdued display from the 21-year-old, however, having registered four assists in his eight league starts this season, while completing an impressive 88.2 per cent of his passes. The youngster has been more adept in a slightly freer role in midfield, rather than as an anchor, and could be a real asset either side of N’Golo Kante in France’s midfield three.
Potential debut: Russia (a) - Nations League (Thurs 11th) OR Slovakia (h) - Friendly (Tues 16th)
The surprise package of Eredivisie so far this season, Heracles are up in fourth thanks in no small part to Peterson’s contribution. Having scored a respectable seven goals last season the 23-year-old already has eight this time around after just eight matches, so it’s little surprise he has earned a place in the Sweden squad. For a national team that is lacking firepower, if the winger can replicate his club form at international level he could become a pivotal player in the years to come.
Potential debut: South Korea (a) - Friendly (Fri 12th) OR Japan (a) - Friendly (Tues 16th)
Recently named among the Golden Boy nominees for this year, Saracchi will hope to become a staple of the Uruguay side in the years to come, with limited options in the full-back positions to Oscar Tabarez. The 20-year-old made the move to RB Leipzig from River Plate in the summer and has started five times in rotation with Marcel Halstenberg so far in the league, averaging the most accurate crosses when excluding corners (2.4) per game.
Potential debut: Saudi Arabia (h) - Friendly (Fri 12th) OR Argentina (n) - Friendly (Tues 16th)
It’s fair to say that Malcom hasn’t come close to making the impact he would have hoped at Barcelona so far, making just two substitute appearances, but that hasn’t deterred Tite from handing the 21-year-old a first Brazil call-up. The winger could make his first start of the season were he to do so in friendlies against Saudi Arabia or Argentina, and will be keen to show Ernesto Valverde that he is ready for action given the Spanish champions woes of late in LaLiga.
Potential debut: Germany (h) - Nations League (Sat 13th) OR Belgium (a) - Friendly (Tues 16th)
As Ronald Koeman looks to breathe new life into an underachieving Netherlands side, the coach has named a number of potential debutants for a high profile double header with Germany and Belgium. Bergwijn is one of three youngsters from PSV to have received the call, and deservedly so following a scintillating start to the campaign. The 21-year-old winger is the third highest rated player in the Eredivisie after eight games (8.12), scoring four times and registering four assists, whilst also completing the most dribbles (26).
