Chelsea trio among seven Premier League stars we're backing to score for their country this weekend

Sean Fisher
3 September 2021

Romelu Lukaku, Belgium, Euro 2020, Chelsea

With the next round of international fixtures around the corner, we take a look at seven Premier League stars that we’re backing to find the net this weekend.

Having an international break just three weeks into the new season is cruel, but while we all wait patiently for the Premier League's return, it gives us time to see how our favourite stars perform for their national side.

The Premier League stood firm in their decision to not allow players to leave if their home nation was red-listed on the UK's travel regulations, but many of its European stars are still in action for the recent World Cup qualifiers.

So, in an attempt to fill a Premier League-sized hole in your weekend, Planet Sport looks at seven Premier League stars that you can bank on to score this weekend.

Ferran Torres

Despite Manchester City publicly stating that they want a new striker this summer, failed attempts to bring both Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Etihad Stadium has left Ferran Torres to fill in.

However, while maybe not Pep Guardiola's first choice, Torres has performed well so far in the Premier League, scoring twice in three matches.

Additionally, the Spaniard has a superb record for his national side. Since his first call up in 2020, Torres has netted eight times for Spain, including a hattrick against Germany in a 6-0 drubbing.

Torres also featured heavily for Luis Enrique's side during Euro 2020, and netted twice - once against Slovakia and once against Croatia.

After losing 2-1 to Sweden earlier this week, Spain now face Georgia this Sunday and will be looking to bounce back. With a fair few goals likely to be pouring in, Ferran Torres is our hot tip to score anytime.

Timo Werner

It's fair to say that Werner suffered a pretty torrid debut season at Chelsea last season, but even still, the German ended 2020/21 as the club's joint-top scorer with 12 goals.

With the arrival of Romelu Lukaku at Stamford Bridge, he's been pushed further wide by Thomas Tuchel, but it's a role that could see Werner enjoy more success this season.

He's yet to score for the Blues in the Premier League, but managed to find the net in Germany's match against Liechtenstein earlier this week.

His goal took his international tally up to 17 - an impressive haul in just 43 appearances.

With momentum now behind him and a favourable fixture against Armenia this Sunday, we're backing Werner to be among the goals again.

Daniel James

Fresh off the back of his £30million move to Leeds United, Daniel James will be raring to go for his national side after missing their 0-0 draw with Finland earlier this week.

The former Manchester United man found himself out of favour at Old Trafford, but has consistently performed well for the the Dragons since his call up in 2018.

In 24 appearances for his nation, James has netted four times, and has also had success against Wales' weekend opponents, Belarus.

After completing his Manchester United move back in 2019, James capped off his strong start to the season with a curling effort against Belarus in what turned out to be the game's only goal.

Now James has completed his recent move to Yorkshire, we're backing him to repeat his 2019 feat by scoring for Wales on Sunday afternoon.

Romelu Lukaku

The big Belgian is back in the Premier League and back among the goals, after scoring just 15 minutes into his second Chelsea debut against Arsenal.

With 66 goals in 99 appearances, Lukaku is Belgium's all-time top goalscorer, and he'll be wanting to cap off his 100th appearance in style when they face Czech Republic on Sunday evening.

Despite dropping out in the quarter-finals, Lukaku managed to net four goals in five games at Euro 2020, and he's continued his red hot international form this week with a brace against Estonia.

The Czech Republic will undoubtedly put up a bigger challenge to the Red Devils this weekend, but Lukaku looks to be in peak form and is never far from the scoresheet on international service.

Kai Havertz

A fellow Chelsea star we're tipping to score is Havertz, who netted the opener for the Blues in their recent 1-1 draw against Liverpool.

After his big money move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020, Havertz now seems to be settled in London and has grown into a pivotal part of Tuchel's plans at Stamford Bridge.

He's begun to add goals to his game, and at crucial times too - how's the Champions League final for instance.

Admittedly Armenia at home in a World Cup qualifier doesn't quite fit in the same category, but nevertheless, we see Havertz being a goal threat this weekend.

We've already backed compatriot Werner to etch his name on the scoresheet, and with Havertz adding to Germany's firepower, we see him linking up with his Chelsea teammate in what could be a goal fest in Stuttgart.

Che Adams

Southampton's Scotsman is next on the list, with the Tartan Army set to face Moldova in their World Cup qualifiers this weekend.

A recent 2-0 loss to Denmark has left the Scots fourth in their group, but with last-placed Moldova up next, we see Steve Clarke's side bouncing back with a bang.

A convincing win puts them right back in contention for qualification, and with Moldova sitting on a frightful -13 goal difference, the goals could pour in at Hampden Park.

Adams is yet to score for the Saints this season, but has enjoyed a successful start to life as a Scotland international since pledging his allegiance in 2021.

After just eight games, Adams has found the net twice already, and we're backing him to bolster his tally on Saturday night.

Teemu Pukki

Norwich City's flying Finn is just three goals away from becoming his country's highest ever goalscorer, and will see Saturday afternoon's clash against Kazakhstan as a prime opportunity to edge closer to the record.

The 31-year-old scored 26 for the Canaries last season as they gained promotion to the top flight, and he managed to get off the mark in the Premier League last weekend after converting a penalty against Leicester City.

If his club form isn't tempting enough, Pukki managed to score 10 goals in 10 games in Finland's Euro 2020 qualifiers to ensure his nation qualified for their first ever international tournament.

Now with the chance to fire his country to the 2022 World Cup, we're backing Pukki to score anytime against Kazakhstan.