Pablo Pagis will travel with the France squad to Italy this week. The 23-year-old Paris FC forward is an uncapped addition to Zinedine Zidane’s roster for the Nations League fixture on Thursday, with his first senior call-up confirmed in the squad announcement on Friday.

He was drafted in to replace Maghnes Akliouche, who withdrew with a calf injury. France are missing a long list of regulars for the trip to the San Siro, with William Saliba, Jules Koundé, Maxence Lacroix, Manu Koné, Ousmane Dembélé and Esteban Lepaul all ruled out through injury, and Dayot Upamecano suspended for the Italy game.

Zidane framed the opening as a chance to assess a profile he had been monitoring, telling reporters in comments carried by the Associated Press that Pagis has an “interesting” and “different profile” he wants to see up close.

From Lorient to Les Bleus

Pagis arrived at Paris FC in a €15m move from Lorient in July, after scoring 10 Ligue 1 goals the previous season. He can play up front, on the wing or as an attacking midfielder, and has two goals and one assist in the league this season for his new club, who currently sit fourth in Ligue 1. His father, Mickaël Pagis, was a professional striker who spent time at Marseille, among other clubs.

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One point from the quarter-finals

France lead Group A with 10 points from four matches, ahead of Italy on seven and Belgium on six. A draw in Milan on Thursday is enough to send Zidane’s side through to the March quarter-finals.

Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Thuram and Aurélien Tchouaméni are all included after recent injury worries, with Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise rounding out the attacking options. France close the group stage at home to Turkey in Bordeaux on 15 November.

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