Roberto Fernández in line for Spain debut against Czech Republic in Oviedo

Roberto Fernández is facing the opportunity of a lifetime. The Espanyol striker, the team's top scorer in the early weeks of the league season, could make his first appearance for Spain's senior national team on Monday in the Nations League clash against the Czech Republic at the Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo (20:45 local time). Injuries to Nico Williams and Ferran Torres have cleared part of the path for the Córdoba-born forward, who was left out of Luis de la Fuente's matchday squads in the first two games and now sees his debut much closer than ever.

Spain's attacking injuries open the door for Roberto Fernández

The national team camp has lost two attacking options in recent days. Nico Williams and Ferran Torres both left the squad through injury, forcing Luis de la Fuente to call up Carlos Espí as an emergency replacement after the youngster scored five goals for the under-21 side against San Marino. Despite that late arrival, the situation is far more favourable for Roberto than it was in the opening two matches, when he was one of three players cut from the selection.

Espanyol's top scorer arrives in the best form of his career

Roberto Fernández has started the season at an outstanding level. In the first seven rounds of La Liga he has scored six goals for Espanyol, numbers that have made him one of the biggest revelations of the campaign. His finishing instincts and ability to arrive in the box have not gone unnoticed by the national team coaching staff.

• Roberto Fernández was left out of Spain's matchday squad in the first two Nations League games.
• Injuries to Nico Williams and Ferran Torres have created space in the forward line.
• The Espanyol striker has scored 6 goals in 7 La Liga matches this season.
• A debut would raise his release clause from 25 to 30 million euros.

Czech Republic and Croatia offer two chances for the debut

Spain are preparing for their third Nations League fixture as reigning world champions. After the match in Oviedo, La Roja will face Croatia next Tuesday, another potential stage for Roberto's first international appearance. Squad rotation and the usual workload management during international windows tend to benefit players who are waiting for their chance from the bench.

A debut that would make history for Espanyol

If Roberto Fernández steps onto the pitch in a Spain shirt, he would become the first Espanyol player to debut for the senior national team since the era of Joselu, Raúl de Tomás and Raúl Tamudo, the three players who represented the club at international level during this century. His debut would also earn him the 49th frame in the Gallery of Internationals at the RCDE Stadium, an honour reserved for players who reach that milestone while wearing the Espanyol jersey.

The financial value of an international debut

Roberto's potential debut with Spain would not only carry symbolic and sporting value for Espanyol. His first appearance for the senior side would trigger an increase in the striker's release clause, raising it from the current 25 million euros to 30 million. That added protection comes at a time when the club is watching the value of its main attacking reference grow considerably.

Espanyol supporters will be keeping a close eye on events at the Carlos Tartiere and also on next Tuesday's match against Croatia. The excitement about seeing Roberto in a Spain shirt is felt throughout Cornellà, where fans are hoping the Córdoba-born forward finally gets his opportunity.