Divock Origi has been subject to a late international call-up from Roberto Martinez ahead of Belgium’s clash with Switzerland on Sunday.
The Liverpool man will take the place of Yannick Carrasco after the Dalian Yifang star discovered he would be unable to travel to Lucerne due to passport problems.
Origi’s place in the squad comes as something of a surprise, with the striker’s only senior appearance for Liverpool this season coming as a second half substitute in the recent Champions League defeat to Red Star Belgrade.
It also marks the first time he has been called upon by his national team in 235 days, underlining the impact of his stuttering club career.
⚽️ @CarrascoY21 will miss #SUIBEL (passport problem). @DivockOrigi joins us.#REDTOGETHER 🇧🇪#NationsLeague
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) November 16, 2018
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Origi hasn’t played for Belgium since November 2017, when he made a 16 minute cameo in a 1-0 friendly win over Japan.
The 23-year-old spent last season on loan with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg as a means of gaining regular first team football and rediscovering his top form. Having endured a gruelling relegation battle, Origi was left out of Belgium’s World Cup squad in Russia.
His omission highlighted the extent of his regression, with Origi having first emerged as one of European football’s exciting prospects during the 2014 World Cup.
Four years later, he finds himself staring at a likely Liverpool departure in 2019 after struggling to assert himself as a long-term part to Jurgen Klopp’s plans.
On the upside, reported interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers suggests he won’t be short of offers come the turn of the year.