Hugo Ekitike could change allegiance as claim made over new snub for Liverpool forward

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Liverpool beat Newcastle to Hugo Ekitike(Image: PA)

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike could be overlooked by France once more, despite his strong start to the season.

He's netted twice in just as many Premier League matches and also found the back of the net in the Community Shield.

Yet, it seems this may not be enough to persuade Didier Deschamps to include him in the Les Blues squad as the 2018 World Cup victors gear up for this summer's tournament.



They face Ukraine next Friday before welcoming Iceland four days later.

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Deschamps is set to announce his squad on Wednesday, but according to Le Figaro, the French manager still deems it 'too soon' for Ekitike to earn a call-up, despite his impressive performances over more than a season at both Frankfurt and Liverpool.

This could lead Ekitike to reconsider representing Cameroon, even though he had previously aimed for a place in the French team.

The forward is eligible to play for both nations and could now shift his focus to the African country in his quest for international recognition, reports the Mirror.

Cameroon's finest World Cup achievement was reaching the quarter-finals in 1990, where they were defeated by England.

They've been one of Africa's most consistent teams and currently sit second in their qualifying group behind Cape Verde.

They have participated in six of the last eight World Cups.

France, with their impressive attacking line-up featuring Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and PSG star Ousmane Dembele, are tipped as one of the favourites for the tournament set to take place in North America.

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Ekitike's challenge lies in the stiff competition he faces, with it being reported that Deschamps is showing a preference for Manchester City's Rayan Cherki, Bayern Munich's Michael Olise and PSG's rising star Desire Doue.