UEFA Europa League: 20 Players To Watch in the Group Stage

Europe's secondary club competition, the Europa League, gets its group stage underway on Thursday, as 48 teams look to clinch a spot in the knockout phase.

There are 12 groups of four teams, the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage along with the eight third placed clubs from the Champions League group stage.

Although it is not considered a popular competition, it's worth focusing attention on the Europa League because of the many talented players this year's competition boasts.

Here are 20 players that you should be on the lookout for this season in the Europa League.

Bryan Ruiz

Ruiz signed for EPL club Fulham on the last day of the transfer window, and already has the chance to face his former club FC Twente in Group K.

The clubs of Ruiz's past and present will be the favorites to advance to the knockout stage.

The Costa Rican international scored 36 goals in 61 games over the past two seasons in the Eredivisie with Twente, before moving to London in August.

Miroslav Klose

Klose is no stranger to European competition, as he has played on the continental level with Bayern Munich.

The German left Munich in the summer for Lazio in Serie A, and scored in the club's league opener against AC Milan.

The former Werder Bremen forward has scored a total of 26 goals in European competition, and will look to add more for the Biancocelesti as the club look to advance from Group D.

Falcao

Like the first two players on this list, Falcao switched teams over the summer.

The Colombian forward, who won the Europa League with Porto last season, joined Atletico Madrid to replace Diego Forlan who departed for Inter.

Falcao was a powerful force up front for Porto, as he netted 73 goals in all competitions (including 18 in Europe last season) in just two years at Portuguese club.

Javier Pastore

The 22-year-old Argentine made the move to Paris St-Germain from Palermo in the summer, and is looking to be one of the key players to lead the resurgence under new ownership in the French capital.

Pastore scored 17 total goals with Palermo in the past two seasons, and will be more of a player that will be counted for setting up goals than scoring them throughout the season.

However, he will put his fair share in the back of the net.

Edu

One of the key components of Schalke's run to the semifinals in the Champions League last season, the Brazilian midfielder is now on loan at Besiktas and will look to encounter the same success as he did with the German club last season.

Looking to get more playing time, Edu moved to Turkey and will be part of a talented midfield that includes Ricardo Quaresma, Fabian Ernst and Guti.

Jozy Altidore

Altidore made the switch to AZ Alkmaar in the summer after a tumultuous time at Villarreal, which saw him go out on loan three times. The most recent loan spell was with Bursaspor in Turkey.

The American has already begun to make his presence known at the Eredivisie club, as he has scored five goals in six matches for the club in league and European play.

Clint Dempsey

Dempsey was one of the main contributors to Fulham's run to the Europa League final two years ago, and since that final he has become an even better midfielder.

The American garnered interest from a few big European clubs over the summer, but remained at Craven Cottage.

He could form part of a dangerous duo on the wing with new signing of Bryan Ruiz.

Fernando Llorente

Llorente leads Athletic Bilbao into the Europa League in Group F, and the career Bilbao player will look to lead his side to a place in the knockout round.

The Spanish international has made over two hundred appearances for the Spanish club since 2005, and will be a part of an all Spanish club.

The club is one of the few clubs in the competition with all the players on their roster being from the same country.

Antonio Di Natale

Like Llorente, Di Natale has spent most of his career at one club, Udinese.

The Italian has also made over two hundred appearances for his club, and has scored 133 goals for the club in his time spent in Udine.

Jefferson Farfan

Since Farfan joined Schalke from PSV, in 2008, he has been an impact player for the Bundesliga club.

The Peru international has played a key role in helping Schalke advance to the Champions League semifinals.

Although the club were poor in the Bundesliga, they were able to earn a Europa League spot and are the favorites in Group J.

Ola Toivonen

The PSV captain is poised for a breakout season in the Europa League.

Leading the Dutch club into Group C, the Swede has played a crucial role up front for the past two seasons.

Toivonen could cash in on a great season next summer, as he has been a part of the Sweden squad trying to qualify for the Euro 2012, and could be one of the breakouts in that tournament if Sweden qualify.

Diego

Diego is now with his fourth club in three years, after being loaned to Atletico Madrid from Wolfsburg.

The talented Brazilian midfielder has played with Werder Bremen and Juventus in the three year span as well.

He could earn a permanent move to the Estadio Vicente Calderon should he duplicate the form he showed while at Werder Bremen

Obafemi Martins

Martins played a part in getting two clubs to the Europa League this season. He was with Rubin Kazan,  helping them qualify from Russia. Then, while on loan at Birmingham City, he helped the English club win the Carling Cup, which qualified them for the competition as well.

The Nigerian international is now back with Rubin Kazan, and will aim to be one of the top scorers in the competition, as Kazan should qualify behind Tottenham in Group A to get to the knockout round.

Milan Jovanovic

Jovanovic experienced a rough time at Liverpool last season, and is looking to get his career back on track in Belgium with Anderlecht.

The Serbian international made an impact with another Belgian club, Standard Liege, before making the unsuccessful switch to Liverpool.

Jovanovic has already starting playing a huge role for Anderlecht up front, as he has scored twice in four league games for the club.

Luuk De Jong

De Jong will have to step into a bigger role at FC Twente this season, as he will have to partly fill the role that Bryan Ruiz played at the club before his move to Fulham this summer.

The 21-year-old Dutchman has begun to make his impact on Twente with fourteen total goals in two seasons.

He made his first appearance with the national team this year, and scored his first international earlier this month against Finland.

Scott Brown

Brown and Celtic barely got into the Europa League, however, after FC Sion were removed from the competition, the Scottish club got into the group stage.

The Celtic captain will bring experience in Europe to the club, and be a steady force in the midfield.

The Scotland international has been with the club since 2007, and has already made well over 100 appearances, proving his importance to the club.

Arda Turan

Turan is one of the underrated young players in Europe right now.

After being with Galatasaray for over a decade at youth and pro levels, the Turkish international made the move to Atletico Madrid this summer, joining a group of players like Falcao and Diego that are aiming to bring the club back to the Europa League final, which the club won two years ago.

Jeremy Menez

Menez joined the new look Paris St.-Germain this summer from Roma, and will be a key part of the midfield for the French club.

The French international makes his return to Ligue 1 with PSG after three years away at Roma. He played at Monaco and Sochaux before moving to Italy.

Menez will provide European experience, as he played in the Champions League for Roma.

Andreas Isaksson

Deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester City due to the emergence of Joe Hart, Isaksson has successfully got his career back on track at PSV, and has been consistent for the Dutch club since he joined in 2008.

Raul

Who could forget that Europe's top goal scorer in continental club competition is still playing, and will be in the Europa League for a change this season?

After spending his whole career with Real Madrid, Raul made the switch to Schalke last season and helped the club earn a spot in the Champions League semifinals.

The Spaniard has netted 71 total goals in European club competition, and will continue to add to his record this season in the Europa League.