Image Credits: Imago Images
The upcoming international break will run from September 1 to September 9 next month, with one Liverpool man surprisingly set be omitted from his national team.
Federico Chiesa’s return to Italy’s squad after a 14-month absence has dominated headlines.
The 27-year-old is set to be called up this month as the Azzuri strive to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
However, in a surprising development, Hugo Ekitike looks set to be overlooked by Didier Deschamps despite his sensational start to life at Anfield.
The 23-year-old French forward appears destined for disappointment when Deschamps announces his 23-man squad this Wednesday at 2 PM CET at the French Football Federation’s Paris headquarters.
According to reports from Le Figaro, the France manager believes it is “too soon” to hand Ekitike his first senior international call-up, despite the striker’s remarkable early-season form with the Premier League champions.
It’s fair to say that the expected omission comes as a genuine shock given Ekitike’s blistering introduction to English football.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt striker has been nothing short of sensational since his £79 million move to Liverpool, scoring in each of his first three competitive appearances for the club.
His goal-scoring exploits began with a strike against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, before he opened his Premier League account with a composed finish against Bournemouth on the opening day.
The Frenchman’s momentum continued against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, where he netted just 20 seconds into the second half to help secure a dramatic 3-2 victory.
His goal made him just the 10th player to score in each of his first three appearances for Liverpool, and only the second to achieve this feat in the last 50 years after Daniel Sturridge in January 2013.
Le Figaro asserts that Deschamps is already happy with centre-forward options, which include Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé and Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram.
The French outlet claims that the likes of Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise and PSG pair Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola are also among the attacking options that the French manager will count on.
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