Borja Mayoral, Martin Odegaard and Achraf Hakimi have all made the most of international week to show their parent club what they can do.
Real Madrid's network of scouts is tasked not only with watching potential signings, but also keeping an eye on the progress of the players that are out on loan. In somes cases, that work continues into the international break, which offers loanees a further stage on which to carve out a route back to the Bernabéu.
Just ask Borja Mayoral, Achraf Hakimi and Martin Odegaard, three such individuals who will have made their parent club sit up and take notice by standing out for their countries this week.
Mayoral hits treble for Spain Under-21s
Mayoral did so by grabbing a hat-trick for Spain Under-21s. At Levante, the centre-forward is battling to hard to make his mark and win over Granota coach Paco López, even playing out on the left wing. When he joins up with the Under-21s, meanwhile, he's in his element in side in which he's a veritable veteran, and thanks to his three-goal haul the Spaniards claimed a handsome, 4-1 victory over Denmark on Wednesday.
"The emergence of other forwards [in the Under-21s fold] is only making him get better," purred La Rojita's coach, Luis de la Fuente. On Monday, Mayoral faces a stiff test as the Spain's youngsters make their way to Caen to face France.
Odegaard back in action for Norway senior side
Meanwhile, Odegaard was rewarded for his recent upturn in form at Vitesse Arnhem - having hit two fine goals, his first for the Dutch club, in the space of a fortnight - by being handed a return to action for the Norway senior side after an eight-month hiatus, having been relegated back down to the Under-21s.
With the Norwegians trailing 1-0 to Slovenia on Friday, coach Lars Lagerback turned to Odegaard on the hour mark, and the 19-year-old helped the visitors recover to earn a draw in Ljubljana. He can expected to get another chance against Cyprus on Monday. Despite making his international debut four years ago, it would only be a 14th cap for a player who - in what is good news for Madrid - is starting to display green shoots of recovery.
From Europe to Africa
With his performances for Borussia Dortmund this term, Achraf has made a compelling case that perhaps Real Madrid's decision to lend him to the German club for two seasons was overly generous. He's been a hit in the Bundesliga, and on Saturday played the full 90 minutes as Morocco claimed an impressive 2-0 victory over Cameroon.
On this occasion, he played at right-back, his natural position, but at Dortmund has alternated between the two flanks - a sight Madrid will have relished - having previously also shown his ability to operate on the left with his national side. On Tuesday, he's set to feature again as the Moroccans travel to face Tunisia.