Newcastle United starlet called-up to national team - but won't be going to AFCON
Newcastle United academy star Mohamed Waddani has been handed a senior international call-up.
Mohamed Waddani could make his senior international debut for Libya after impressing for Newcastle United at academy level.
Waddani, 18, has registered two goals and two assists for Newcastle Under-18s in the Under-18s Premier League this season while also breaking into the Under-21s squad.
But he has the unique distinction of being Newcastle’s only academy player who could also become a full senior international after being drafted into Libya’s November training camp this international break.
NUFC academy internationals
Waddani has joined up with the national team, who missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup as well as the African Cup of Nations. Libya are set to play friendly matches during the break against Sudan and Mauritania in preparation for their first appearance in the FIFA Arab Cup, which takes place in December ahead of AFCON.
While Waddani is the only Newcastle academy player representing a senior international side, there are several others away with their respective nations at youth level.
Alex Murphy is with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s while Leo Shahar and Roman Dowell are with England at Under-19s and Under-17s level respectively. Midfielder Rory Finneran is also away at the Under-17 World Cup with Republic of Ireland Under-17s.
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Newcastle United’s first-team international representatives
Dan Burn
At first-team level, Newcastle have several internationals though it was confirmed on Tuesday that Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope had withdrawn from the England squad due to injury.
They were replaced by Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah and Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford.
Gordon and Pope’s injury issues mean that Dan Burn is Newcastle United’s only representative in Tuchel’s England squad. The Three Lions have already secured their place in next summer’s World Cup and have two final qualifying matches left to play during the break.
England v Serbia - Thursday 13 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Albania v England - Sunday 16 November (5pm kick-off)
Bruno Guimaraes - Brazil
For once, Guimaraes won’t be travelling too far during an international break. Brazil have two friendly matches to play with the first against Senegal taking place at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Brazil will then head to the French city of Lille to take on Tunisia. Guimaraes will be desperate to impress Carlo Ancelotti in the penultimate international break before next summer’s World Cup.
Brazil v Senegal - Saturday 15 November (4pm kick-off)
Brazil v Tunisia - Tuesday 18 November (7:30pm kick-off)
Nick Woltemade & Malick Thiaw - Germany
Nick Woltemade scored his first ever goal for the senior German national team during the last international break and has the chance to add to his tally this month. Malick Thiaw, meanwhile, has been rewarded for his good form at club level with a first call-up to the Germany squad since October 2023.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side haven’t yet secured their place at the 2026 World Cup but will do so with two wins from their two games this week.
Luxembourg v Germany - Friday 14 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Germany v Slovakia - Monday 17 November (7:45pm kick-off)
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Anthony Elanga - Sweden
Anthony Elanga has a new manager to impress at international level after Sweden parted company with Jon Dahl Tomasson last month. Former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter will take charge of Sweden for the first time this week and will use this time to prepare his squad for crucial Nations League games in March - matches that could give Sweden a backdoor route to the World Cup.
Switzerland v Sweden - Saturday 15 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Sweden v Slovenia - Tuesday 18 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Sandro Tonali - Italy
Italy’s hopes of automatic qualification for next summer’s World Cup hang by a thread heading into two crucial games against Moldova and Norway. Italy currently trail Norway by three points in the group and have a vastly inferior goal difference - due in large part to Norway’s thumping 11-1 win over Moldova in September.
If Norway beat Estonia on Thursday night, then Italy know they must beat Moldova and Norway and also overturn a goal difference that currently stands at 16 behind the Scandinavians. A second placed finish in the group would give Italy a spot in the play-offs and another opportunity to book their place in USA, Canada and Mexico.
Sandro Tonali, though, may play just once for his country this month after Gennaro Gattuso admitted he would rest the Magpies man for their clash against Moldova so as to not risk a suspension. Tonali is just one booking away from being handed a ban by UEFA and if he is shown that against Moldova, then he would miss their crucial game with Norway.
Lewis Hall & Lewis Miley - England Under-21s
For a variety of reasons, both Hall and Miley have found regular gametime at Newcastle United hard to come by this season. A decent chunk of minutes away with the England youth set-up could be what they need to transform their respective seasons.
England U21 v Republic of Ireland U21 - Friday 14 November (7:45pm kick-off)