Pedro Neto and Paulinho receive first call-ups to the Portugal national team
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Pedro Neto and SC Braga’s Paulinho are in contention to make their debuts for the senior Portugal national team after being included in Fernando Santos’ latest squad.
Neto, 20, becomes the first ever player born in the 2000s to be called up to the Portugal team, and is one of five Wolves players included alongside Rui Patricio, Nelson Semedo, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.
Paulinho, meanwhile, had to wait significantly longer to earn his senior call-up, now at the age of 27. The one-time U21 international has been in strong form for Braga over the last two seasons, scoring 25 in 48 last campaign, though he is yet to hit the back of the net in the Primeira Liga this season.
Granada duo Rui Silva and Domingos Duarte are both also in contention to make their debut, Silva chosen ahead of Olympiakos’ Jose Sa, while Duarte benefitted from the injury of Pepe to help secure his place in the squad.
Portugal will be facing Andorra in a friendly before a huge double-header against both France and Sweden which will determine whether Portugal will have the chance to defend their Nations League trophy.
Full squad: Rui Patricio, Anthony Lopes, Rui Silva; Ruben Dias, Jose Fonte, Ruben Semedo, Domingos Duarte, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Raphael Guerreiro, Mario Rui; Danilo Pereira, Ruben Neves, Sergio Oliveira, William Carvalho, Joao Moutinho, Renato Sanches, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva; Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Diogo Jota, Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulinho.
