Tottenham star Udogie among those vying for international recognition this month
The second international break of the season is upon us as players are rewarded for their fine domestic form. Here, we run through those vying for recognition for the first time with their national teams as stars from Tottenham, Granada, Southampton and Inter all feature.
Serhou Guirassy is the star man for VfB Stuttgart this season having scored 13 league goals already, yet winger Chris Fuhrich has also played a key role in their stunning start to the campaign. While he can't match Guirassy's returns in front of goal, the 25-year-old has registered more assists (5) than any other player in the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign. 16 key passes ranks eighth in Germany's top tier, while 14 dribbles ranks fifth. He's earned his chance to prove himself for Die Mannschaft.
A late bloomer, 32-year-old Kevin Behrens is another handed the chance to stake a claim for a spot in the Germany squad ahead of Euro 2024. Julian Nagelsmann has clearly seen enough for the Union Berlin forward to warrant a spot in his first Germany selection since succeeding Hansi Flick as the national team boss. Behrens may not have enjoyed the most prolific campaign to date - he has just four goals to his name, three of which came against Mainz 05 on the opening weekend - but he has won more aerial duels (50) than any other player in the Bundesliga this season and offers a different threat on the frontline.
A somewhat surprise call up to the Argentina squad this month, Carlos Alcaraz has struggled to nail down a regular Southampton spot this season. The 20-year-old has started just five of 11 league games for the south coast side, yet Lionel Scaloni is evidently experimenting with the national players at his disposal. Alcaraz hasn't exactly set the Championship alight for Saints this season either but he's confident in his ability to go for goal as noted by an average of 4.2 shots per 90, the fourth best in England's second tier of those to have registered at least 400 minutes of gametime.
Tottenham head into the international break top of the Premier League, and Destiny Udogie has been key in their fine start to the season. The 20-year-old impressed on loan back at Udinese last term, yet few would have expected Udogie to make quite the impact in his first season at Spurs. The Italian has two assists to his name, and ranks fourth for tackles (25) in the Premier League this season. A first call up to the Azzurri is certainly justified.
Yeremi Pino's injury saw Luis de la Fuente call up Ansu Fati and Bryan Zaragoza to cover for the Villarreal winger's absence. The latter has been a revelation for a Granada side currently mired in the bottom three. Zaragoza has scored five of Granada's 15 league goals this season and has been tearing up defences when he is on the ball. Despite starting six of nine matches, the 22-year-old has completed more dribbles (28) than any other player in La Liga this term, while of the 37 goalscorers in Spain's top tier to have mustered 10 or more shots, only two - Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Morata - have a better conversion rate (31.3%). This may be his first Spain call up, but it certainly won't be his last.
Another Spain call up debutant this month is Athletic Club's Oihan Sancet. The 23-year-old has worked with Luis de la Fuente in the past, so a call up to La Roja felt long overdue, though is certainly justified. While Sancet has scored as many goals as he has been red carded (2) in La Liga this season, the Athletic Club star is a handy ball carrier having completed 11 dribbles so far, this despite standing at 6ft 2in. What's Spanish for 'He's got good feet for a big man'?
Belgium are well stocked in central midfield, but Mandela Keita will hope to use upcoming meetings with Austria and Sweden to make his international bow for the Red Devils. Royal Antwerp may sit five points off top spot after 10 games but Keita has been a regular for the defending champions following his arrival from OH Leuven on loan back in August. Tidy in possession, the 21-year-old's pass success rate of 92.2% for the Reds is the fifth best in the 2023/24 Belgian Jupiler Pro League campaign and his composure on the ball is a core reason behind his inclusion in Domenico Tedesco's latest Belgium squad.
Carlos Augusto's impressive debut Serie A campaign with Monza saw him rewarded with a summer switch to Champions League runners' up Inter on loan back in August. The 24-year-old has failed to break into the Nerazzurri starting XI, starting just one of eight league games to date, yet he has done enough to secure a spot in this month's Brazil squad. Augusto gets forward well from left wing-back having scored six and provided six since the start of the 2022/23 Serie A campaign.
Born in Germany, Lennard Maloney has instead made the decision to represent USA on the international stage. Funnily enough, he could make his USMNT against the country of his birth. The 24-year-old has been a mainstay in the Heidenheim XI since his arrival in 2022, and is the first ever player in the club's history to called up to a senior national team. Heidenheim have made a solid start to their debut Bundesliga campaign, with Maloney key having made the seventh most clearances (31) in the division.
Aaron Ramsey's injury has paved the way for Charlie Savage to be called up to the Wales national team for the first time. While Reading are struggling at the wrong end of the League One table, Savage has been doing all he can to help haul the Royals away from danger. 17 key passes is more than any other player under the age of 21 in England's third tier with the 20-year-old shouldering expectations in the Reading midfield with ease.
