Matias Fernandez-Pardo has another chance to strengthen his growing reputation when Belgium begin their UEFA Nations League campaign against Italy on Friday night.
The Newcastle United forward has been included in Mark van Bommel’s first Belgium squad and will be available for the Group A clash at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm BST, with Belgium then facing France, Turkey and France again during a demanding international window.
Newcastle United confirmed Fernandez-Pardo’s call-up, with the 21-year-old one of several Magpies away representing their countries during the three-week break.
Whether he starts against Italy remains to be seen, but another senior international appearance would continue an encouraging few weeks for Newcastle’s deadline-day signing.
Fernandez-Pardo carrying Newcastle momentum into Belgium duty
Fernandez-Pardo joined Newcastle from Lille at the beginning of September and has already started to show why Matthias Jaissle pushed to add him to his squad.
His intensity was particularly evident in the recent 2-1 victory over Hull City.
As Read Newcastle highlighted this week, Fernandez-Pardo recorded 28 sprints during that game, more than any other Premier League player across the weekend.
It was his second consecutive league start and provided another indication of how quickly he is adapting to Jaissle’s demanding style.
The Belgian has also been used centrally despite being capable of operating across the front line, with his pace and pressing giving Newcastle a different option during a period when the squad has been affected by injuries.
Friday’s game represents another useful test.
Italy away is a considerable step up from most of the opposition Fernandez-Pardo has faced during the opening weeks of his Newcastle career, and any minutes in Rome would give him another opportunity to develop against elite-level opposition.
The forward already has senior international experience.
Newcastle’s profile of Fernandez-Pardo notes that he made his Belgium debut earlier this year and subsequently featured during the 2026 World Cup.
He is now part of a new era under Van Bommel, whose first competitive game in charge comes against Italy.
Busy international window ahead
Fernandez-Pardo’s Belgium commitments do not end in Rome.
Belgium host France on Monday 28 September before facing Turkey on Friday 2 October and travelling to France three days later.
UEFA’s official Nations League schedule confirms the four fixtures during the current international window.
Read Newcastle is also tracking every Newcastle player on international duty with appearances, results and injury developments being updated throughout the break.
For Fernandez-Pardo, the next two weeks provide another opportunity to build confidence before Newcastle return to Premier League action against Coventry City on 12 October.
