Hugo Ekitike solely made his debut for France a month in the past, however one gesture by Didier Deschamps means that the Liverpool striker is now on the forefront of the nationwide group supervisor’s pondering.
The 23-year-old has made a shiny begin to life at Anfield, with 5 objectives in his first 10 appearances making him the Reds’ high scorer thus far this season, though he blotted his copybook by getting despatched off in weird circumstances towards Southampton within the Carabao Cup.
That indiscretion didn’t stop him from getting known as up for Les Bleus, although, and our quantity 22 has now linked up together with his nation for his or her World Cup qualifying double header towards Azerbaijan (Friday) and Iceland (subsequent Monday).
Ekitike handed quantity 9 shirt for France
On Tuesday morning, a French journalist shared a snippet of stories which bodes effectively for Ekitike forward of these two matches.
Ilies Peeters of 90min posted on X (translated): ‘Hugo Ekitike will put on the quantity 9 for the French nationwide group this month for the matches towards Azerbaijan and Iceland.’
Ekitike will get to emulate two ex-Liverpool strikers
With Marcus Thuram sidelined by harm, the no.9 shirt for France had been left vacant, and it seems to symbolize a powerful present of religion by Deschamps handy it to Ekitike for this month’s fixtures.
The 23-year-old is ready to comply with within the footsteps of two former Liverpool strikers in Nicolas Anelka and Djibril Cisse, each of whom additionally wore that esteemed shirt quantity for Les Bleus, together with distinguished forwards similar to Olivier Giroud and (in earlier generations) Luis Fernandez and Raymond Kopa (Transfermarkt).
The Reds centre-forward might need to accept a spot on the bench in deference to Kylian Mbappe, though Deschamps would possibly give him the nod to begin at residence to bottom-placed Azerbaijan on Friday.
In any case, there appears a powerful probability of Ekitike enjoying some half in each matches, even with the obscene riches that France have in assault, and to take action with the quantity 9 on his again may make the LFC star really feel 10 foot tall psychologically.
If he does rating for his nation over the following week, we are able to absolutely assume he gained’t whip off his shirt in celebration this time, particularly if he’s already on a yellow card!
