Longstaff brothers among Premier League quartet in U21 team of the week
This week’s Under-21 best XI from across Europe’s top five leagues features seven goalscorers, four Premier League youngsters and two brothers.
The star man in the lineup is Brighton’s Aaron Connolly (9.05 rating), who marked his first Premier League start with a brace as the Seagulls outplayed Tottenham. No player had more shots over the weekend in England’s top-flight, proving how much the 19-year-old tormented the Spurs defence, and he will hope to cap a dream week with a Republic of Ireland debut in their crucial qualifier in Georgia.
While Connolly netted on his first Premier League start, Newcastle Matty Longstaff (8.05 rating) scored on his league debut with what proved to be the winning goal against Manchester United. The teenager was named alongside older brother Sean - in the spotlight given interest in his services from the Red Devils over the summer - and the 21-year-old also makes the cut (7.79 rating) having created four chances and completed 90.6 per cent of his passes.
Completing the Premier League quartet is Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.84), who is becoming a regular in the U21 XI. The right-back made five interceptions and created five chances in the Reds’ last gasp victory over Leicester.
Nantes keeper Alban Lafont (6.79) makes the team once more too, having kept a third clean sheet in a row, fifth in six matches and sixth of the Ligue 1 season already in a 1-0 victory over Nice.
Elsewhere the rearguard is made up of three Serie A goalscorer with Verona teenager Marash Kumbulla (7.73) returning from suspension to score his first senior goal. Meanwhile Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic (8.01) and AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez (7.80) both notching decisive goals in victories, with the latter scoring his first goal for his new club on the eve of his 22nd birthday - just qualifying as a result.
Real Madrid youngster Federico Valverde (7.94) continued to justify his inclusion in the team with an assist, three tackles and three dribbles in a 4-2 win over Granada, while two Bundesliga youngsters occupy the flanks.
Achraf Hakimi (8.08) takes his place on the left as he continues to flourish in an advanced position on the wing, scoring in the 2-2 draw at Freiburg following on from a Champions League brace. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig summer signing Christopher Nkunku (7.17) takes the spot on the right despite only being introduced just before the hour mark at Leverkusen. That was enough time for the Frenchman to score an equalising goal as well as complete two dribbles.
