10 Youngsters Who Could Make Their International Debut This Weekend
By Tom Gott
Most club football isn't even back yet and we've already found ourselves in an international break. They're unavoidable.
With managers across the globe looking to shape their squads for the 2020/21 campaign, a number of youngsters look set to be handed maiden opportunities to impress on the international stage this weekend, and we're all for it.
Here are ten debuts to look out for.
1. Phil Foden
After establishing himself as a regular starter at Manchester City after lockdown, it always seemed like just a matter of time before 20-year-old Phil Foden was given the nod for England.
His tally of eight goals and nine assists in all competitions looks impressive on paper, and that's before you even consider that he only started 18 games.
2020/21 looks set to be an enormous season for Foden, and it could start off with an England debut.
2. Mason Greenwood
Joining Foden in the England camp for the first time is Mason Greenwood, the 18-year-old Manchester United forward who took the world by storm last season.
With Jadon Sancho being England's only other right winger in the squad, Greenwood will be feeling confident of making an appearance against either Iceland or Denmark.
There may even be minutes deputising for Harry Kane in attack, although with Danny Ings and Tammy Abraham breathing down his neck, Greenwood's future may well be out wide.
3. Jérémy Doku
Anderlecht youngster Jérémy Doku isn't a household name just yet, but expect him to be very soon.
The 18-year-old winger broke through to the senior side last season and has attracted interest from some of Europe's biggest sides, with Liverpool one of many giants keen on Doku.
A blockbuster transfer is surely on the cards for Doku, but it looks like an international debut for Belgium will come first.
4. Eduardo Camavinga
It's actually a little surprising that Eduardo Camavinga has had to wait this long for an international debut.
The 17-year-old was one of France's standout midfielders during the 2019/20 season, helping Rennes to a third-placed finish and coming one pandemic away from a ludicrously expensive transfer to Real Madrid.
He also scored a banger last time out against Montpellier, so he'll be raring to go for Les Bleus.
5. Dayot Upamecano
If you're surprised that Camavinga is yet to earn a cap, the realisation that RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano is still without an appearance for France might just blow your mind.
With ludicrous depth at centre-back, France boss Didier Deschamps has struggled to find a place for Upamecano, but the 21-year-old's outstanding domestic campaign has left the boss with no choice.
Now that he's finally with the squad, expect Upamecano to stay there for the foreseeable future.
6. Francisco Trincão
On a personal level, 2020 has been pretty kind to Francisco Trincão. January brought a £27m move to Barcelona, and now September could bring a debut for Portugal.
The 20-year-old ended his breakthrough season with nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions and looks more than ready for a major role in the national team already.
Portugal will get the defence of their Nations League crown underway with games against Croatia and Sweden, and Trincão will hope to play a major part in both games.
7. Ansu Fati
Ansu Fati barely even had the chance to impress in Spain's youth setup before being invited to join up with the seniors.
Only granted Spanish citizenship last September, Fati made just two appearances for the Under-21s, but his astronomical rise to prominence with Barcelona has earned him a chance to earn his first senior cap.
Despite not yet turning 18, Fati has missed the chance to become Spain's youngest-ever player, but he will become the youngest player to wear the shirt since 1958 if he makes his debut soon.
8. Eric García
Barcelona believe that Manchester City youngster Eric García can be the future of their defence, and the Spanish national team seemingly agree.
The 19-year-old established himself as a regular in Pep Guardiola's post-lockdown squad, starting five of City's final seven games, and he clearly did enough to impress Luis Enrique.
García now has to compete with Diego Llorente and Pau Torres for the chance to line up alongside captain Sergio Ramos at the heart of Spain's defence.
9. Ferran Torres
Sticking with Spaniard's at City, summer signing Ferran Torres could get his first chance to impress since sealing his £21m move to the Etihad Stadium earlier this summer.
Torres enjoyed his finest goalscoring season to date last year, racking up six goals and eight assists in all competitions and justifying the hype with has surrounded him for years.
He'll have to compete with Gerard Moreno and Adama Traoré for his minutes, but Torres will be confident of picking up that first cap soon.
10. Alessandro Bastoni
Most of the focus at Inter this season has been on strikers Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez, but one player who deserves the same amount of excitement is 21-year-old centre-back Alessandro Bastoni.
The towering Italian has kept Milan Škriniar out of the starting lineup at San Siro, starting 28 games in all competitions and playing a core role in Inter's run to the Europa League final.
Roberto Mancini has proven to be willing to play young players if they deserve minutes, and few centre-backs have earned that opportunity more than Bastoni.