Arsenal and Barcelona forwards among potential international debutants this month
The first international break of the season is upon us, and with it; a number of players have received callups to their respective national team. Here we pick out 10 who will hope to win their first cap this month, with stars from Arsenal, Barcelona and Tottenham all featuring.
Perhaps a surprise inclusion in the England squad to some, Eddie Nketiah has scored twice in the Premier League this season, those earning Arsenal an additional four points. Nketiah won't leapfrog Harry Kane nor Callum Wilson in the pecking order for Gareth Southgate's side, but he is six years the former's junior, with Southgate perhaps looking to the future with his inclusion of the 24-year-old. Adept at holding up possession and a menace for defenders, there is sound logic behind the Gunners striker's callup.
While now 32 years of age, Pascal Groß's form for Brighton means his Germany callup is well deserved. Groß has been directly involved in just one league goal this season, that coming in a 3-1 loss to West Ham last month, but he'd have at least one assist to his name had his teammates sported their shooting boots. Indeed, the Seagulls star has made more key passes (16) than any other player in the Premier League this term, and with no competitive action between now and the European Championship next year, Hansi Flick is clearly dipping into the German talent pool to assess his options ahead of Euro 2024.
Nigeria boss Jose Peseiro has an abundance of riches to call upon on the frontline, with Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi among those to make his September squad. Talented youngsters Gift Orban and Victor Boniface also made the cut, and the pair will hope to make their international debut this month. The latter has made a stunning impact since his summer switch to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. Boniface has been directly involved in six goals across his three league outings, scoring four, while a WhoScored rating of 8.59 is better than any other player in Europe's top five leagues this season.
🔥 Highest rated players across Europe's top 5 leagues this season:
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 4, 2023
🥇 Victor Boniface - 8.50
🥈 Lautaro Martinez - 8.47
🥉 Kylian Mbappe - 8.36
🏅 Leroy Sane - 8.35
🏅 Jude Bellingham - 8.26 pic.twitter.com/mIE80VDuT1
After making just a single sub appearance last season, Lamine Yamal has become a key man for Barcelona in 2023/24. It's all the more impressive when you consider Lamine Yamal turned 16 back in July. The teenager's performances haven't gone unnoticed either, with the young forward called up to the Spain squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Georgia and Cyprus. Lamine Yamal has completed the 12th most dribbles (7) in La Liga this season and international recognition seems the next step in what has been a whirlwind career to date.
While Italy's number one spot is seemingly sewn up for years to come, with Gianluigi Donnarumma first choice for the Azzurri, Luciano Spalletti's appointment as Italy boss last month presents those vying for a regular spot for the defending European champions with the chance to force their way into the reckoning. Guglielmo Vicario is one of those looking to earn a first senior cap. The 26-year-old has proven a solid addition for a Tottenham side that has picked up 10 points from the opening four games, returning a save success rate of 84.2%; only Alisson (90%) has earned better.
Tijjani Reijnders - Netherlands
Tijjani Reijnders has become a key man for AC Milan following his summer arrival from AZ Alkmaar. The Rossoneri have won their opening three league matches and are, along with rivals Inter, the only side to boast a 100% record so far in Serie A. Reijnders hasn't exactly pulled up any trees for Stefano Pioli's side, but he's been proficient at keeping play ticking over for AC Milan, with a 92.5% pass success rate the 12th best of those to have started two of three league matches in Italy's top tier. A first callup for the Netherlands is certainly justified.
Micky van de Ven - Netherlands
Another Dutchman who'll be confident of earning a first cap, Micky van de Ven looks to be the long-term replacement for Jan Vertonghen in the Tottenham defence. Spurs spent big on the rapid youngster over the summer, and he hasn't looked out of place under Ange Postecoglou. The 22-year-old boasts a 93.5% pass success rate in the Premier League this season, that ranking fourth of centre-backs to have started at least three English top-flight games this term. Oranje boss Ronald Koeman is blessed with a number of top-quality centre-backs, so Van de Ven has his work cut out to secure a place in the side, but at the very least he deserves his place in the Netherlands squad.
Reims have made a solid start to the Ligue 1 campaign, picking up seven of a possible 12 points so far, with Oumar Diakite doing all he can to help the French side in the final third. Diakite has only scored once following his summer arrival from Salzburg, yet has evidently done enough to catch the eye of head coach Jean-Louis Gasset. The teenager has completed the seventh most dribbles (10) in France's top tier this term. There is stiff competition for places on the Ivory Coast frontline, but the 19-year-old is a handy option to call upon.
Remaining with Ligue 1, Caio Henrique has been instrumental in Monaco's sprint start to the 2023/24 campaign. The Brazilian has registered more assists (4) than any other player in France's top tier this term, while a WhoScored rating of 7.45 ranks 15th in the division. A critique of Brazil's was their lack of top quality full-backs at the 2022 World Cup, but Henrique could help rectify that problem, with the 26-year-old establishing himself as one of the most effective attacking left-backs in France.
Lucas Beltran has failed to transfer his impressive River Plate performances to Fiorentina following his summer switch from Argentina to Italy, but it's surely only a matter of time before 22-year-old begins to score freely for the Viola. Only Michael Santos and Pablo Vegatti (both 13) scored more goals than Beltran (12) in Liga Profesional last season, this despite registering just 1374 minutes of game time. The youngster does have Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez ahead of him in the pecking order, but has done enough to warrant his place in Lionel Scaloni's squad.
