Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho headlines players to watch during international break

Aditya Devavrat 22:51 14/11/2018
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  • Jadon Sancho

    The latest international break will provide a stage for some of the most in-form players in Europe, as well as a few bright young talents still making their names on the club stage.

    Former Manchester City academy product Jadon Sancho is the headline figure among the players set to thrill crowds while on international duty.

    Here are five players to watch over the coming week:

    Jadon Sancho

    Sancho has been a revelation for Borussia Dortmund this season, and his likely first start for England during their friendly against the United States has been well-earned.

    The 18-year-old has started the season with five goals and eight assists in 17 appearances across competitions, with his form a big reason why Dortmund are the Bundesliga leaders.

    England have a host of exciting young attacking players, some coming through the ranks and others already entrenched. But at the moment no one has set pulses racing more than Sancho, who left City last summer in search of regular first-team football. Expect him to light up Wembley on Thursday.

    Sancho made his England debut in the previous international break.

    Sancho made his England debut in the previous international break.

    Alassane Plea

    Alassane Plea may only be in the France squad thanks to injuries to Anthony Martial and Alexandre Lacazette, but the Borussia Monchengladbach star has earned his call-up.

    Plea has scored eight goals in 11 games in the Bundesliga this season, including a hat-trick against Werder Bremen in his most recent outing.

    Though they won the World Cup, the lead striker role has been somewhat of a problem position for France. Olivier Giroud is an integral member of the starting XI, but he went the entire World Cup campaign without scoring, and has only scored three times in his last 16 France appearances.

    With France all but certain to top their group, will Didier Deschamps start looking at alternatives to the Chelsea man? If so, Plea could be the one to benefit.

    Alassane Plea has been in hot form.

    Alassane Plea has been in hot form.

    Memphis Depay

    Memphis Depay has a claim to being the Netherlands’ best player currently, at the very least among the Oranje’s attackers. He’s scored or assisted 29 club goals in 2018 -only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can top that – as he’s spearheaded Lyon’s resurgence.

    Yet that form and its influence on his club’s fortunes have come with renewed questions about his attitude. Depay’s struggles during a two-and-a-half-year spell at Manchester United were well-documented, and though he seems to have moved past that, run-ins with Lyon management show he’s still got a ways to go.

    For now, he can let his talent do the talking, with games against France and Germany coming up. If he continues to perform, a move back to one of Europe’s elite clubs could come that much sooner.

    Depay has already started angling for a move away from Lyon.

    Depay has already started angling for a move away from Lyon.

    Timothy Weah

    The USA have turned to youth in the wake of their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, with Timothy Weah being one of the more high-profile beneficiaries.

    Son of former AC Milan, Monaco, and Paris Saint-Germain star George Weah, the first African player to win the Ballon d’Or, the 18-year-old comes with a big reputation. So far he’s made more appearances for his national team, seven, than he has for PSG, six.

    The USA have a tough run of friendlies during this break, facing both England and Italy. But the better the opposition, the bigger the stage for a player of Weah’s hype.

    Weah made his PSG debut last season.

    Weah made his PSG debut last season.

    Leroy Sane

    Leroy Sane has endured a mixed few months.

    After his shock exclusion from Germany’s World Cup squad, his recall following the side’s stunning group-stage exit at the tournament came with talk that the young star needed to improve his attitude. Questions over his mentality have arisen at club level, too.

    With Marco Reus set to miss Germany’s friendly against Russia, and possibly even their UEFA Nations League fixture against the Netherlands, Sane is likely to be thrust into the starting XI. Joachim Low could do with one of his young stars providing a spark for a side that has won only once in four games since its World Cup humiliation. Can Sane deliver?

    Leroy Sane's meteoric rise has slowed down recently.

    Leroy Sane’s meteoric rise has slowed down recently.

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