10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of February 14-15
Another weekend, another series of important fixtures throughout world football—with a mixture of cup ties and important league encounters taking place throughout Europe's major footballing nations.
We have picked through the various fixtures to identify 10 players of particular note this weekend, either due to recent news surrounding them or because they look well-placed to make a sizeable impact on the games they are set to play in.
Click on to peruse the 10 individuals—and feel free to add your own candidates below.
Enner Valencia (West Ham United)
1 of 10
With news emerging that Andy Carroll will miss the rest of the season due to injury, per Goal, suddenly the pressure and responsibility on the shoulders of West Ham United's Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia has only increased. The duo will now be expected to carry the weight of their side's hopes over the remainder of the season, which could end in European qualification and a cup challenge.
Carroll's injury not only robs Hammers boss Sam Allardyce of some flexibility in his attacking and tactical choices, but it robs Valencia and Sakho of the chance to be rested with any regularity—Carlton Cole remains as a third option, but he hardly has Allardyce's faith considering he was almost allowed to leave in January, as reported by Simon Jones of the Daily Mail.
The boss will need his two main strikers to fire on all cylinders over the rest of the season, starting with this weekend's FA Cup game with West Bromwich Albion.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
2 of 10
It would be the height of sensationalist media coverage to suggest Cristiano Ronaldo still has anything to prove at Real Madrid, but it would not be unreasonable to point out that he perhaps could do with making a point this weekend against Deportivo La Coruna.
None of Real Madrid's stars covered themselves in glory during the embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid last weekend, with Gareth Bale initially taking the brunt of the criticism. But Ronaldo dragged himself under the microscope with his decision to go ahead with a 30th birthday party mere hours after the loss, one he seemed to celebrate with little thought for what had just happened.
To say Ronaldo should not have celebrated his birthday would be unreasonable, but the manner of the party was perhaps ill-conceived considering the circumstances. The best way the Portuguese can respond is by getting back to his brilliant best as soon as possible—Depor might be the unlucky side that faces the backlash.
Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough)
3 of 10
At 21 years old, Patrick Bamford is the same age as Harry Kane (to be precise, he is a couple of months younger) and has a similar footballing CV, in terms of national team age groups he has represented and his vaunted goalscoring ability at youth and reserve level.
Bamford's route to potential stardom is different to Kane's, however; as the Tottenham Hotspur striker makes a name for himself at the very highest level with his goalscoring exploits in the Premier League in recent weeks, Bamford has quietly been accruing experience and goals at a lower level—currently enjoying his third loan spell since Chelsea signed him for around £1.5 million in 2011.
His latest stop is Middlesbrough, where he has continued his impressive goalscoring record as the club edge closer and closer to promotion to the Premier League. Clever on and off the ball and consistently efficient in front of goal, Bamford appears to have the potential to make a Kane-esque impact at the highest level—it's just a matter of being patient and taking his chances when he can.
With Chelsea perhaps planning for his continued development next season (he surely will be loaned to a Premier League side, if indeed he is loaned anywhere), this weekend's game against Arsenal will be a decent chance to see how he will fare against the best defences in the country.
Solid against Manchester City in the last round, Bamford could make a real statement against an Arsenal back line that is likely to incorporate a couple of changes.
Nabil Fekir (Lyon)
4 of 10
Last weekend's draw with Paris Saint-Germain kept Olympique Lyonnais ahead in Ligue 1, and made a real statement, but now the hard work really starts for them, as they bid to upset the status quo (and the economic order) in France.
Lyon cannot afford any dip in performances over the next few weeks, starting with Sunday's visit to Lorient. Much of the focus will be on how the team cope without the injured Alexandre Lacazette, the team's prime goalscorer, but midfielder Nabil Fekir is similarly important to the side, and will look to dictate things from a deeper role.
Fekir is likely starting to attract greater and greater attention from scouts and teams on the Continent, but for now he needs to concentrate on the job in hand—his performances could drive Lyon on as they enter a crucial phase of the campaign.
Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal)
5 of 10
Wojciech Szczesny will start for Arsenal against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup this weekend, Arsene Wenger has already confirmed as much. Whether he will be able to earn back his No. 1 spot over the coming weeks remains to be seen, however.
Szczesny has been out of the team for the last few fixtures, as summer signing David Ospina has finally been given his chance—a chance created by Szczesny's poor form (and smoking antics) in the last game of his runs. Ospina has generally been OK in the games he is started, but looked extremely suspect against Tottenham Hotspur in the recent derby defeat—opening the door to Szczesny's potential return.
With the Champions League around the corner, reclaiming that No. 1 shirt will be a huge priority for Szczesny. Only Wenger knows what the Pole will have to do to reclaim his old position, but a strong performance against Middlesbrough will not hurt.
Julian Green (Hamburg)
6 of 10
Sent on loan by Bayern Munich to gain valuable first-team experience, Julian Green's time at Hamburg has not exactly gone to plan. After a stop-start spell at the club (not helped by a change in management during what has been a difficult campaign), it was reported this week that the youngster had been demoted to Hamburg's reserve squad—a move Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge described as "regrettable," per Bild (h/t ESPN FC).
Later in the week there was a slight U-turn, however, as Hamburg manager Josef Zinnbauer indicated that the United States international could yet be included in the side's squad—who coincidentally face Bayern this weekend.
Bundesliga rules allow on-loan players to face their parent club, so it remains to be seen whether Green is involved. If he is, it could be a last chance to salvage something from a season that has not quite lived up to expectations—for all parties involved.
Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)
7 of 10
Making slow progress over a contract extension, is the ever-controversial Mauro Icardi heading for the exit door at Inter Milan?
Reports and speculation abound when it comes to the striker's future, especially after he decided not to celebrate either of his goals in last weekend's comfortable victory over Palermo. His current contract at the club is due to expire in 2018, meaning he is quickly approaching a point whereby his transfer value will be affected by his expiring deal. If Inter want to maximise their profit, they might need to sell in the summer, unless he signs an extension prior to that.
This weekend, Roberto Mancini's side travel to Atalanta, with scouts likely to be continuing to monitor Icardi's form. With a big move or a big improved contract to play for, Icardi has every incentive to continue delivering the goals.
Andre Schurrle (Wolfsburg)
8 of 10
After making his Wolfsburg debut in a comfortable win over Hoffenheim last weekend, Andre Schurrle's second game for the club sees him return to his former Bundesliga home—as his new side face Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena.
Schurrle's signing was another statement of intent from Wolfsburg, who seem increasingly determined to threaten Bayern Munich's dominance over the next few seasons. Before that, however, they need to qualify for the Champions League—and beating Leverkusen would be another important step on that path.
Keylor Navas (Real Madrid)
9 of 10
Another goalkeeper, and indeed another Real Madrid player, looking for a key opportunity to impress this weekend is Keylor Navas.
Reports abound that Real boss Carlo Ancelotti is considering giving the Costa Rica No. 1 the start against Deportivo La Coruna in place of Iker Casillas, such as this piece in the Daily Mail, after the Spaniard made another prominent mistake in the embarrassing defeat to Atletico Madrid last weekend.
Navas's position at the club seems very up in the air, if not at the moment, then certainly in the medium and long-term. Signed in the summer for a significant fee, but Casillas' back-up ever since, the club remain linked with the likes of David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois as they search for a long-term replacement for the ageing Casillas, as reported by Jonathan Green of the Daily Star. If Navas wants to be that man, his window to prove it would seem to be pretty short.
With that in mind, every start he makes becomes all the more significant. If he gets the nod against Depor (which is by no means guaranteed), then a commanding display is nothing less than what he needs.
Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven)
10 of 10
At this point, PSV's run to the Dutch title seems almost unstoppable, but an injury to Andres Guardado has thrown something of a spanner into the works. The Mexico international has been a valuable addition to the club this season, offering experience and technical quality in his midfield role.
His absence will be felt, but it also creates an opportunity for other members of the team to take on more responsibility—starting with this weekend's game against AZ Alkmaar.
Essentially any sort of positive result will keep the momentum going for PSV, who will perhaps be looking to Georginio Wijnaldum to dictate much of the play from a central role. The 24-year-old has progressed nicely in recent months, slowly realising the potential many saw in him as a teenager, and could continue to progress if Phillip Cocu continues to give him more and more responsibility.
