Jorge Sampaoli bolstered his Argentina squad for this month’s friendlies against Italy and Spain on Monday and as expected Racing Club striker Lautaro Martínez was among the five new additions.

Martínez was named along with Boca Juniors pair Cristian Pavón and Pablo Pérez and Independiente duo Fabricio Bustos and Maxi Meza.

With no place for Mauro Icardi or Paulo Dybala, Argentina were clearly light in attack and so Lautaro Martínez’s place appeared obvious. Jorge Sampaoli has been a regular at the Cilindro and witnessed two hat-tricks by the young striker in the past month so it is no real surprise to see the 20-year-old get his first senior international call.

[SELECCIÓN MAYOR] Con estos jugadores del fútbol local, Jorge Sampaoli completó la lista de convocados para los partidos ante Italia y España. pic.twitter.com/YVHflTxDji

— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) March 12, 2018

Martínez has made a prolific start to 2018, with eight goals and three assists in eight appearances, and aside from being on the verge of agreeing a big money move to Inter, offers something a little different to many other attacking options available.

A natural goal scorer, like Icardi in that respect, Martínez is equally comfortable outside the penalty area or in the channels where he can turn provider if he required. This workrate and ability to link play, in addition to his predatory penalty box instincts is something that has attracted Sampaoli to the youngster.

With the news that Sergio Agüero faces a race to be fit for the friendlies, Lautaro Martínez could well make his debut against Italy in Manchester.

Cristian Pavón remains in the squad after impressing in last November’s friendlies against Russia and Nigeria, while maintaining his impressive club form with Boca Juniors. 

Bustos has been the obvious candidate over the past year with his outstanding displays in Independiente’s attractive, Copa Sudamericana winning side. Despite being a first team regular for only a little longer than that period, the 21-year-old’s dynamic displays, bursting forward from right-back have attracted attention.

A quick and constant threat out wide, Bustos has improved defensively and his pace allows for recovery and support to the central defenders. Bayern Munich are already being linked with a summer move and in a position where Argentina are not exactly spoiled for choice, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bustos in Russia.

Sampaoli’s two less obvious choices are in midfield where Argentina add Pablo Pérez and Maxi Meza.

At 32 years of age, Pablo Pérez is not one for the future but may yet play a role for Argentina in the short-term. A busy, box-to-box presence that La Albiceleste at times lack, the former Newell’s Old Boys’ midfielder gets forward to contribute to the attack and battles to win back possession, even if that does attract yellow cards.