Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has been rewarded with a maiden senior call-up for France following his explosive start to life at Anfield.
The 23-year-old, who joined the Reds from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this summer, replaces Rayan Cherki in Didier Deschamps’ squad after the Manchester City forward was forced to withdraw with a thigh injury.
Ekitike was left out of the original list last week despite netting three goals in his first three Premier League appearances for the reigning champions. Deschamps had explained that France’s wealth of attacking options made selection difficult, but the Liverpool No.9’s form has proved too hard to ignore.
He will now link up with Les Bleus ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine in Poland on September 5 and Iceland in Paris on September 9.
