Swans can be crucial to Sanches' Portugal plans

8th September
First team

New signing Renato Sanches is hoping a successful year at Swansea City will help his chances of a recall for Portugal’s senior side.

The midfielder was part of his nation’s successful Euro 2016 campaign while aged 18, but featured for Portugal’s Under-21s in the summer after missing out on the squad for the Confederation Cup tournament.

Earlier this week he played 70 minutes as Portugal U21s beat Wales – now he hopes a productive year in south west Wales will boost his hopes of returning to Fernando Santos’ squad and playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and co.

And, he hopes, a place at next year's World Cup in Russia will also be on the horizon with Portugal hoping to edge Switzerland in the race for the automatic qualification spot in Group B.

“It was a great pleasure to win the Euros - for me and for all the Portuguese people, because it was a historic moment for us (players) and for our nation,” said the 20-year-old.

“But the most important thing to get back into the national team is to play and I arrived here with that objective.

“I want to give my best and train well to earn the right to play so I can get back into the national team again because the players that are playing (for their clubs) are the ones that go to the national team.”