Injured on October 20, Jérémy Doku (30 caps, 2 goals) has only played around twenty minutes with Manchester City since. This weekend he was absent from the squad that faced Brighton in the championship. It was the same for Charles De Ketelaere (20 caps, 2 goals) with Atalanta for the match against Udinese.
Malick Fofana started in Olympique Lyonnais’ victory in the Rhône derby against Saint-Étienne (1-0) on Sunday. The one who won his Red Devil stripes against Italy a month ago came off in the 86th minute.
The misfortune of some will make the happiness of others and will notably offer a first selection among the seniors to Samuel Mbangula and Killian Sardella. For Albert Sambi Lokonga, it will be a return after a long absence, the last selection dating back to March 2022. Arthur Vermeeren, who was on the trip to the last Euro, had been “demoted” to the hopefuls , where Domenico Tedesco felt he had a bigger role to play.
Samuel Mbangula (20 years old), who has revealed himself spectacularly in Italy this season, has taken on a joker role in Thiago Motta’s squad at Juventus. He scored 1 goal and gave 3 assists in Serie A, and he has started each of the Diablotins’ three matches since September.
Romelu Lukaku makes his comeback: the Red Devils have arrived in Tubize
Killian Sardella (22), firmly established at right-back at Anderlecht and among the U21s, is promoted to the seniors at the end of a path through the age groups of the national team from the U15s. He started 13 times in the 14 RSCA championship matches this season.
Sambi Lokonga (25 years old) had worn the Red Devils jersey once, in Estonia, in September 2021. Again taken up during three subsequent gatherings by Roberto Martinez, he had however not yet been called up by Domenico Tedesco. Injured at the start of the season, the former Anderlecht player on loan from Arsenal to Seville started in the last three La Liga matches.
Arthur Vermeeren has already made 4 appearances for the A national team at the age of 19, whose talent was promoted by the Italian-German coach. On a siding at Atlético de Madrid, he took advantage of a loan to RB Leipzig to find playing time.
A newcomer to the Red Devils: Samuel Mbangula is called up by Domenico Tedesco!
