Player Focus: Potential International Debutants

International football is back in full swing this week and with that in mind we thought we'd take a look at a number of newcomers on the scene. In this focus we'll analyse the form of four players that could make debuts for their respective national sides in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

We're focusing on youngsters in the most part, but also take a look at a 27 year old potential England debutant profiting from a number of withdrawals from Roy Hodgson's squad.

Steven Taylor

Newcastle's Steven Taylor first received a senior call-up in 2007 ahead of a friendly with Germany but didn't feature, making a long-awaited return to the side and one that the Geordie faithful feel is well deserved. Injuries have plagued his development in recent years but a seemingly unavoidable ‘pre-planned training programme’ for Rio Ferdinand may well help Taylor come into contention against San Marino on Friday night.

With Michael Dawson also absent and Gary Cahill unfit for Friday's encounter, Taylor's form since the turn of the year suggests that he will push for a starting berth. Of English centre-backs to make more than 5 appearances in 2013 he ranks 5th according to WhoScored ratings in that time (6.98), with Ferdinand (7.08) and Dawson (7.27) two of those above him.

Only 6 players have averaged more clearances per game in the Premier League this season (9.8), whilst his 89.7% pass accuracy is the sixth best of any Englishman in the top flight. Taylor's a committed defender, which is a trait that has been called into question of some players in recent times due to increasing numbers of drop outs, and has blocked more shots per game (1.44) than any player to make more than 10 appearances over the last two seasons.

Raphael Varane

Another centre-back hoping to make his mark on the international scene this weekend is Real Madrid's Raphael Varane who was forced to withdraw from France's squad last time out through injury. The 19 year old is fit to face Georgia and Spain in the upcoming qualifiers and based on his recent form is likely to be in contention to start, potentially becoming the first teenager to do so for Les Bleus since Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema back in 2007.

His performances have been incredibly assured, particularly in big matches against the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United, netting in both editions of El Clasico in the semi finals of the Copa del Rey to set up a mouth-watering finale with Atletico. He cuts a lanky figure and is subsequently strong in the air, winning 3 aerial duels per game and 75% of his headed contests in La Liga, but is very capable in terms of pace and strength.

He's also a very mature player, rarely losing concentration or mistiming challenges, committing just 0.5 fouls per game compared to Sergio Ramos' 2.1. Elsewhere his 6.7 clearances per game is a team high for Madrid and, in keeping Pepe out of the line-up, the esteem in which Jose Mourinho holds him is clear.

Paul Pogba

Joining Varane in Didier Deschamps' France squad is Juve's Paul Pogba, who only turned 20 last week. The midfielder may have frustrated Manchester United during contract negotiations but his move to Serie A has seen him become an important member of the Scudetto winning, 'invincible' team from last season. The Frenchman plays whenever one of Pirlo, Vidal or Marchisio are unavailable, racking up 13 league starts from 21 appearances.

With 5 goals to his name he's been crucial in an offensive sense, with the league leaders' three top scorers having only scored 7 each, and some of his strikes have been truly memorable, including a brace against Udinese. He's a very confident player and offers a real physical presence in midfield despite his tender age, winning 1.9 aerial duels per game as well as 2.2 tackles a match on average.

Pogba is in the mould of a current crop of French central midfielders in that he is elegant and composed in possession but capable of hard graft like Matuidi and Gonalons, though he prefers to weigh in further upfield. Nevertheless in France's current system he would be able to fit in deep in midfield as his does when deputising for Pirlo, but is more of a box-to-box midfielder than Deschamps’ options elsewhere.

Mateo Kovacic

A lot of Croatian hopes lay on the young shoulders of Mateo Kovacic, tipped to be the next Luka Modric, and a senior international call-up at the age of just 18 is testament to his potential. Kovacic demanded a considerable fee when Inter completed his signing from Dinamo Zagreb in January, and he’s already started 5 games (4 in the Europa League) for the Serie A giants.

Although comparisons to Modric are not illogical - both keep and carry the ball well due to such a low centre of gravity - the teenager is known more for his dribbling ability than his playmaking. Only four players completed more dribbles in the Champions League group stages this season (17), but that adventure has been culled somewhat at Inter, where he's been asked to play deeper.

In turn his passing stats are impressive, maintaining a 92.1% accuracy in the Europa League, which is better than any other player that hasn’t played in defence in the competition to date. However, most are keen to see him play in a conventional number 10 role, as vacated by Wesley Sneijder, and it will be intriguing to see how he's used in the national team alongside the man he's tipped to emulate.