Real Madrid loanees impress in international break: Mayoral, Achraf, Odegaard...
Borja Mayoral, Martin Odegaard and Achraf Hakimi have all set about reminding their parent club of their abilities in international week.
Real Madrid's network of scouts is tasked not only with watching potential signings, but also keeping an eye on the progress of the players Los Blancos have loaned out to other clubs. In somes cases, that work continues into international week - a stage which offers loanees a further opportunity to stake their claim to be brought back into the Bernabéu fold. Just ask Borja Mayoral, Achraf Hakimi and Martin Odegaard, three such individuals who will have made their parent club sit up and take notice by standing out for their countries in recent days.
Mayoral hits treble for Spain Under-21s
Mayoral did so by grabbing a hat-trick for Spain Under-21s. At Levante, the centre-forward is locked in a battle to win over Granota coach Paco López, even playing out on the left wing. When he joins up with the Under-21s, meanwhile, he's in his element in a side in which he's a veritable veteran, and thanks to his three-goal haul the Spaniards claimed a handsome, 4-1 victory over Denmark on Wednesday.
"The emergence of other forwards [in the Under-21s fold] is only making him get better," purred the team's coach, Luis de la Fuente. On Monday, Mayoral and La Rojita face a stiff test as they make their way to Caen to take on France.
Odegaard back in action for Norway senior side
Meanwhile, Odegaard was rewarded for his recent upturn in form at Vitesse Arnhem - his last three games have brought his first two goals for the Dutch club, both fine strikes - by being handed a return to action for the Norway senior side after an eight-month hiatus, having been relegated back to the Under-21s.
With the Norwegians trailing 1-0 to Slovenia on Friday, coach Lars Lagerback turned to Odegaard on the hour mark, and he helped the visitors recover to earn a draw in Ljubljana. He can expect to get another chance against Cyprus on Monday. Despite making his Norway debut in 2014, it would only be a 14th cap for the 19-year-old, who - in what is good news for Madrid - is starting to display green shoots of recovery.
Achraf helps Morocco to fine win
With his displays for Borussia Dortmund this term, Achraf has done much to support the suggestion that Madrid's decision to lend him to the Germans for two years may have been overly generous. He's been a hit in the Bundesliga, and on Saturday played the full 90 minutes as Morocco claimed an impressive 2-0 win over Cameroon.
On this occasion, he played at right-back, his natural position, but at Dortmund has alternated between the two flanks - versatility that will have pleased Madrid - having previously also shown his ability to operate on the left with his national side. On Tuesday, he's set to feature again as the Moroccans travel to face Tunisia.
