Arsenal quartet among potential debutants to watch this international break
The final round of UEFA World Cup qualifiers takes place this month, yet despite so much at stake for some, international managers are rewarding those in good club form with a first call up for their country. The likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Espanyol and Marseille are among the club sides represented in this potential international debutant XI...
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) - England
This month isn't the first time Aaron Ramsdale has been called up to the England squad, but he is still waiting for that first cap. On recent form, the Arsenal number one warrants that first England appearance this month. Ramsdale's save success rate of 84.4% is the best in the top four tiers of English football this season, while only Edouard Mendy and Ederson (both 6) have kept more clean sheets than the 23-year-old (5) in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.
Matty Cash (Aston Villa) - Poland
Matty Cash took one look at England's right-back options and applied for a Polish passport in September. Cash qualifies for Poland on his mother's side and was handed a call up Paulo Sousa ahead of crunch World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary. Sousa isn't short of right wing-back options in his favoured three-man backline, but in Cash he has a Premier League experienced option to call upon, and one that has played the role a handful of times for Aston Villa this season.
Nico Schlotterbeck (Freiburg) - Germany
With Hansi Flick overlooking the likes of Lukas Klostermann and Mats Hummels as centre-back options in his latest Germany squad, Freiburg youngster Nico Schlotterbeck is hopeful of being handed the chance to consolidate a regular spot in the side. The 21-year-old has been excellent for a high-flying Freiburg side that has conceded fewer goals (9) than any other Bundesliga team this term, noted in his WhoScored rating of 7.34, that enough to make the Bundesliga team of the season so far.
Gabriel was forced to withdraw from Brazil's Olympics squad due to injury, but having made an exceptional return to first team duties for Mikel Arteta's side this season, the former Lille man was drafted into Tite's side for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. There is ample competition for places in his position for Brazil, and he is unlikely to be thrust into action against Argentina later this month, yet it's deserved recognition for a fine campaign so far for Gabriel.
Another young American talent off the conveyer belt, Joe Scally may be a right-back by trade, but his versatility enables him to play left-back, too, something he has done three times for Gladbach this term. Scally scored his first goal and provided his first assist for the Bundesliga side last month and affords an impressive attacking outlet from either side as averages of 1.3 dribbles and 1.1 key passes per league game suggest.
Lukas Nmecha (Wolfsburg) - Germany
Germany have booked their place at Qatar 2022 and Hansi Flick is taking the opportunity to take a closer look at the youngsters at his disposal. Nico Schlotterbeck isn't the only untested youngster in the Germany squad, with Lukas Nmecha also making the cut. Nominally a striker, Nmecha has played out wide a couple of times for Wolfsburg this season, and to good effect, with two of his six league and European goals coming from the right. The 22-year-old has utilised the absence of Wout Weghorst and poor form of Gian-Luca Waldschmidt to good effect for the Wolves having caught the eye of Flick.
Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille) - France
Technically the third of four Arsenal players in this XI, Matteo Guendouzi is enjoying a notable loan spell with Marseille. The Frenchman's efforts in Ligue 1 haven't gone unnoticed either with Didier Deschamps taking note. Guendouzi has directly contributed to five goals in France's top tier this term, netting twice, while his distribution of 90.6% is the seventh best of midfielders in the division. For a France side that seeks to dominate opponents, Guendouzi should fit in nicely for Les Bleus, and he could be given his chance to make his international bow this month if Deschamps' side do book their place at Qatar 2022 with a game to spare.
Danil Glebov (Rostov) - Russia
Danil Glebov has beean steadily progressing for FC Rostov and he looks to have taken his game to the next level in the Russian Premier League this season, so much so that the 22-year-old will hope to earn international recognition under Valeri Karpin this month. That said, Russia could face a potential automatic qualification showdown with Croatia over the weekend, so Karpin may go with his tried and tested, but Glebov is going some way to showing he warrants a senior cap before too long. The youngster has scored four times in the Russian Premier League this season and ranks third for tackles and interceptions combined (55) in Russia's top tier. His good form has yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.29, that the seventh best in the division.
Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal) - England
A late call up due to injuries to others, Emile Smith Rowe deserved his inclusion in the England setup. While some may feel Conor Gallagher was overlooked, that's not to take anything away from Smith Rowe's performances for Arsenal. A goal in their 1-0 win over Watford on Sunday means the 21-year-old has scored in three successive league outings for Mikel Arteta's side. In total, Smith Rowe has scored four and provided two assists in the Premier League this season - only Jamie Vardy (8) and Reece James (7) have directly cotributed to more goals of English players this term - with the young attacker hoping to leave a lasting impression on Gareth Southgate this month.
Raul De Tomas (Espanyol) - Spain
In the absence of Gerard Moreno and Ferran Torres, Luis Enrique has looked to Espanyol striker Raul De Tomas for Spain this month. The 27-year-old is a guaranteed source of goals having scored seven of Espanyol's 14 league goals this season, all the while providing an additional two assists. Only Karim Benzema (4.2) is having more shots per game than De Tomas (3.7) in La Liga this season, with the Spanish hitman confident in his goal getting ability. Spain will need him to be at his best in the final third if they are to leapfrog Sweden into top spot in Group B.
Dante Vanzeir (Union St.Gilloise) - Belgium
Roberto Martinez has ample attacking options in the absence of record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku, but Dante Vanzeir is the uncapped striker hoping to make an impact this month. The 23-year-old has scored nine goals and provided six assists in the Jupiler Pro League this season to help return a WhoScored rating of 7.42. Vanzeir (24) ranks 18th for key passes in Belgium's top tier this term and his form for the league leaders means a call up is certainly justified.
