Jean-Philippe Mateta: Crystal Palace star earns maiden international call-up after sparking start to season | OneFootball

Striker starred for his country at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Jean-Philippe Mateta has received his first senior call-up to the French national team.

The Crystal Palace striker was included in the France squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland named by head coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday.

He could lead them out on their European competition main-draw debut when they face Dynamic Kyiv in Lublin, Poland in the Conference League on Thursday evening.

Palace are the only Premier League team still unbeaten this season and have not lost in 18 games ahead of their Conference League opener.

Mateta has previously represented France at youth level and scored five goals in six games for their Olympic team as they claimed the silver medal at last summer’s Paris Games.

“I like his profile,” Deschamps said of Mateta.

“He is not so young, but he played for almost all of the different teams at youth level. He has the ability to score goals.”

Paris Saint-Germain duo Desire Doue and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele were both omitted from the squad due to injury.

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has fitness concerns but retains his place from last month, and there are also call-ups for fellow Premier League stars William Saliba, Ibrahima Konate, Malo Gusto and Lucas Digne.